Subject: WSJ030729 EuroReview & Outlook: An Englishman's Home > July 29, 2003 > > REVIEW & OUTLOOK > > > An Englishman's Home > Yesterday one of Britain's most controversial killers was released. Tony > Martin -- a 58-year-old farmer -- had served more than three years in prison > for killing a burglar who was attempting to rob his isolated farmhouse. His > story is one that resonates across Europe. > A victim of repeated burglaries, Mr. Martin told the courts at his trial > that he had been acting out of self-defense and "blind panic." Police had > previously told him that they lacked the resources to respond speedily to > crimes, so he kept a shotgun to protect himself. Originally he was given a > life sentence, but a public outcry and an appeal reduced the sentence to > five years for manslaughter. Although his "victim" Fred Barras, was only 16, > he already had a record 29-offenses to his name, and during the robbery was > on bail for theft.
This article somehow neglects to mention that Martin shot Barras in the back and left him to die. It also manages to neglect to mention that the jury did not believe Martin's claims to have acted in self-defence or "blind panic". This was printed in the Wall Street Journal? Don't they check their facts in that paper? -- Tim
