since9
Campaign Veteran
If this goes to trial I predict it becomes a national news story.
The antis are going to use it as evidence to ban guns.
I would think the trial has to be moved out of Missoula County and if that happens I predict they get a jury that is pretty sympathetic to homeowners and self defense.
It did go to trial, and the homeowner, Kaarma, was found guilty.
Justice perverted.
Prosecutors argued Kaarma was intent on luring an intruder into his garage and then harming that person. That night, Kaarma left his garage door partially open with a purse inside. He fired four shotgun blasts, pausing between the third and fourth shots, witnesses said. Three witnesses testified they heard Kaarma say his house had been burglarized and he'd been waiting up nights to shoot an intruder.
University of Montana law professor Andrew King-Ries noted state law does allow homeowners to use deadly force to protect their property, but it requires them to act reasonably.
"What the jury's saying here is, you have a right to defend yourself, but this isn't reasonable," King-Ries said. "Lots of people have guns here, and lots of people feel very strongly that comes with a responsibility to handle your weapon appropriately." Source.
University of Montana law professor Andrew King-Ries noted state law does allow homeowners to use deadly force to protect their property, but it requires them to act reasonably.
"What the jury's saying here is, you have a right to defend yourself, but this isn't reasonable," King-Ries said. "Lots of people have guns here, and lots of people feel very strongly that comes with a responsibility to handle your weapon appropriately." Source.
The problem I have with the results is they seem to ignore the FACT that the perp, Diren Dede, was STILL trespassing on Kaarma's property, then inside his home (garage), in the early hours of April 27, 2014. That meets the requirements of the Castle Doctrine.
Link.
Last edited: