Vigilante Justice is not Self Defense

by Michelle
(Ohio)

Here is a perfect example when vigilante justice is NOT self defense.

Maurice Parks, who just got off work and was walking home, got jumped by several criminals who stabbed and robbed him. The attackers fled.

Even though Parks had been stabbed, he was okay enough to go after his attackers. This was his first mistake. Instead of going for help or calling the police, he decides to get some payback on his attackers.

Parks let his anger over being attacked lead him to find the criminals and give them some vigilante justice.

So, he comes upon a man who had absolutely nothing to do with the stabbing and mugging and he chases the innocent man. Parks then proceeds to stab the victim 15 times, including several times in the back. The innocent man dies.

Now Parks ends up on trial for 2nd degree murder. He claims self defense and that he thought the man he killed was one of the muggers.

But, it can't be self defense because Parks was no longer in danger. The attackers had fled. Once the threat of harm is over, you can't decide to go after your attackers yourself and get revenge. That's not self defense.

The jury didn't buy his claim of self defense and they found Parks guilty. Now he can end up in prison for 15 years to life. All because he wanted to get back at his attackers and kill them.

If he had just gone for help, an innocent bystander would be alive today, getting married to his fiance.

But instead, Parks was so angry about being attacked that he wanted some payback. Now he'll be in prison for years because of his poor, deadly decision.