2aHawaii
General Topics => General Discussion => Topic started by: itwasntme on October 14, 2009, 06:38:58 AM
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I just got done reading an article on KITV's website regarding the murder of Bryanna Antone. The article was based around anger and disbelief that individuals witnessed the murder and did nothing. One witness described seeing the perp strangle her for about 10 minutes... 10MINUTES!!! Within 10 minutes any number of responding parties could have intervened. Its both saddens me and angers me to realize that this girl could have had a fighting chance had someone done something. My thought would be that the victim was someone sister, daughter, friend, just as I have in my life... to me thats a life worth saving... no matter if I personally know her or not.
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My wife and I felt exactly the same way. Although the way the media portrays how she and her brother met the guy sounds... unusual, that those witnesses did nothing is completely unacceptable. At least call the police and make it known that help is on the way if you're unable or unwilling to intervene. I'm not sure where that kind of apathy comes from, but it sucks. Actually, it's probably the "avoid trouble at all costs" attitude, but I don't know that for a fact. I told my wife, "you know how the police tell you to go where there are a lot of people around if you think you're being followed or harassed? Well you can do that but don't expect anyone to help." I'm sure there are some people on this island that would help, but you just never know and you surely can't always expect people to help. There are rare exceptions like the guy that tried to help the lady that got beaten to death with a shotgun in Kailua by her ex years ago, but you can't depend on others (even the police) to be there for you.
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This is a good discussion for strategy and tactics.
In this case, calling the cops would have worked because he was choking her for so long. In the case a couple years ago with the guy beating his ex with the shotgun, it wouldn't have helped because it was over really quickly.
But these are things that don't make tactical sense to get involved in. Not only can you be injured, but you can face lawsuits and even prison. And if you were allowed to carry concealed, it may make you more brave, but you can still face the same threats.
More on topic, it really sucks that this happened. Someone should have called the cops. This could have turned out way different.
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I'm not disagreeing. I do think it is a sad commentary on our world that the decision of whether to protect an innocent has to be tempered by concerns about liability.
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After Jennifer Tupuola was attacked by her ex, Prosecutor Peter Carlisle stated that use of deadly force is justified when saving your own life or that of another. With that said, yes, deadly force is justified, but it still may not exempt you from a lawsuit from the attacker or his or her family, not to mention the time, money and effort proving your actions were justified, and that a life was in fact in jeopardy.
Regardless of liability, the fact still remains that NO action took place by any of the witnesses. One can argue the level of involvement when a preventive measure is taken, but none can argue the fact that a simple call to 911 would have given the victim a fighting chance. As everyone noted, a sad and nerve grinding situation indeed