Beware Angry Pensioners
I was going to mention this one last week but got caught up in other matters.
One of the most often quoted complaints about thecurrent judicial system which is aired concerns the rights of victims to defend themselves & their property. We hear stories about witnesses or victims taking their own action & getting arrested or coming off worse than the offender.
So it was good to hear the story of 72-year-old Frank Corti, who took action when a drunken neighbour, Gregory McCallum broke his way into Mr Corti’s home in August last year armed with a knife.
McCallum threatened Mr Corti with the knife but he dodged it & swiftly delivered two punches before restraining the drunken thug.
McCallum was sentenced to four and a half years’ imprisonment at Oxford Crown Court last week. The court heard how he came off much worse with a bruised & bloody face. He apparently hadn’t taken account of the fact that Mr Corti, still fit & able had been a boxer fir the army in his younger days.
Recorder Angela Morris said that McCallum “got what he deserved”. She said “The elderly and vulnerable people are entitled to demand the protection of courts from people like you who decide to take matters into your own hands and enter a property with a weapon.”
A clear victory for common sense, methinks.
rafanon says:
I’m glad you’ve gotten round to mentioning this, I was hoping you would! Mr Corti is a legend! For once the judicial system has defended the rights of the agrieved and common sense alike.
About time.
July 8th, 2009 at 6:49 am
Fee says:
I saw this in the paper and gave a cheer for the bloke! Gawn yersel, auld yin!
July 8th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Hibbo says:
Excellent result! It’s very refreshing to hear of things like this. I imagine the police involved couldn’t build a strong enough case to persuade the CPS to charge Mr Corti.
I’m not quite sure what to make of the 4 and a half year sentence; it sounds quite tough for a ‘aggravated burglary’, but with early release automatically at the two thirds point, it’s not a great sentence for attacking a pensioner with a knife.
July 8th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Linda Baki says:
It is nice to see the law is on the side of the victim for a change. Lately it seems the perpetrator has the law on his side, human rights or what ever they like to call it. Although not one for violence I think this chap had no choice and the burglar got his just deserts.
July 15th, 2009 at 8:27 pm