I know this has nothing to do with anything, but Winona Ryder was found guilty of felony grand theft and vandalism, but not burglary.
In the words of the bully from The Simpsons: Hah, hah!
Burglary is strange
brian_d_foy on 2002-11-07T03:10:53
Although legal definitions vary from place to place, in my part of the world (
Uniform Code of Military Justice, Article 129 ) a burglary has to happen at night in someone's home. During the day time it is called housebreaking. Why that matters I do not know. The only time it mattered to me I ended up charging the guy with
Damage to Government Property, Article 108 anyway. Maybe I should look it up in the Oxford English Dictionary someday. I bet burglary was something that kept happening to Old Man Burglar, like Cow Tipping is named after cows, and that's how it got its name.
It also has nothing to do with theft. It is the act of breaking and entering that constitutes the crime, which Winona clearly did not do, but which
G. Gordon "Rat Eater" Liddy did do.
That doesn't mean I don't think she shouldn't fry. Not!
:)
Re:Burglary is strange
djberg96 on 2002-11-07T03:44:27
The AP news article implied that burglarly had to do with intent (to some degree), and that must have been the 5 1/2 hour sticking point the jury deliberated. I guess the fact that she had a pair of scissors on her when she walked into the store wasn't enough.
I was hoping for the death penalty, but I guess she's just gonna get community service. These damned liberal judges...
Re:Burglary is strange
brian_d_foy on 2002-11-07T03:51:27
Yes, burglary must have criminal intent, but it also has to be breaking and entering. The link to the UCMJ from my previous comment stipulates both.
