Do you think what Santillan did in the following incident qualifies as self-defense:
Witness Esteban Lopez Romo testified that he had just walked into Wildwood Park when he saw Santillan come out of a store and get attacked by Figueroa near the bathrooms. Lopez, who is in federal custody for an alleged immigration violation, testified that they exchanged words, and Figueroa began punching [Santillan]. He said he didn’t remember what was said between the two.
Santillan appeared to step back and try to ward off the blows as Figueroa flailed at him for about two minutes, Lopez said.
Defense attorney Ron Vanesian asked if Santillan took a defensive posture in the fight.
“If you call pulling out a gun and blasting the other guy away being defensive, then yes,” Lopez said.
Figueroa, who was shot in the chest, fell to the ground, he said, and Santillan stepped over the 19-year-old and shot him in the head before running off, he said.
“(The shots) happened very quickly,” Lopez said.
I think Santillan acted in self-defense, but the judge ordered the trial of Santillan for murder.
I define murder as the offensive killing of one or more innocent persons. From what the witness said, it seems Santillan used lethal force to fend off an attacker. I do not see that as murder. I see it as self-defense, and I want self-defense to remain completely legal.
What do you think?
Monday, June 4th 2007 at 12:31 am
I like your blog. I’m RSSing it.
About this one: I have a T-shirt that sums up everything, from self-defense to eating too much fat because it tastes good:
“THINK: It’s not illegal yet.”