Not quite self defense...or is it?

[hardheadjarhead]

I got a kick out of this. So did the perp.

From CNN on line:


PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (Reuters) -- A man described by authorities as a known sexual predator was chased through the streets of South Philadelphia by an angry crowd of Catholic high school girls, who kicked and punched him after he was tackled by neighbors, police said Friday.


Rudy Susanto, 25, who had exposed himself to teen-age girls on as many as seven occasions outside St. Maria Goretti School, struck again on Thursday just as students were being dismissed, police said.

But this time, a group of girls in school uniforms angrily confronted Susanto with help from some neighbors, police said.

When Susanto tried to run, more than 20 girls chased him down the block. Two men from the neighborhood caught him and the girls took their revenge.

"The girls came and started kicking him and punching him, so I wasn't going to stop them," neighbor Robert Lemons told The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Susanto was later treated for injuries at a local hospital. Police said he would be charged with 14 criminal counts including harassment, disorderly conduct, open lewdness and corrupting the morals of a minor.

[Zepp]

This guy sounds like a runner-up for a Darwin Award. :D

[rachel]

Hey. He deserved what he got. I'm proud of those girls for chasing him down and kicking his a**. Exposing yourself is pretty much a step away from actually trying something. What if he got one of those girls alone? He'll know better next time than to try something like that, I hope.

[theletch1]

Sounds like those girls have been studying Tae Kwon Leap!! Boot to the head! Way to go, ladies!

[lvwhitebir]

Self defense? Definitely not! Did he get what he deserved? Definitely not! Yes he should be punished for what he did, but not by those girls. They should have gone to the police. Period.

Here's my take on it. Every state I know of has a law that says you can use deadly force if you are defending yourself against multiple opponents. The girls weren't in danger and could have walked away instead of chasing him, so they weren't defending themselves, they were assaulting him. What if he had killed one of them? Who would really be to blame? He was just defending himself. What if they would have killed him?

Violence should only be used in a real self-defense situation and only until you can get away. You have no right to chase the guy to punish him for his actions. It is not only against the law, it is dangerous. In my opinion, these girls should be charged with assault. There was no excuse for their actions.

This whole episode has the same feel for what happened to Alex Gong. Unfortunately his didn't end up on the good side.

WhiteBirch

[Crouching Tiger]

"Violence should only be used in a real self-defense situation and only until you can get away. You have no right to chase the guy to punish him for his actions. It is not only against the law, it is dangerous. In my opinion, these girls should be charged with assault. There was no excuse for their actions."

I could not agree more.

[LadyDragon]

I have to agree that violence isn't always the best solution for a problem. But this guy had been caught exposing himself to these girls on several occassions. If they would've called the cops they wouldn't have gotten there in time to catch this guy in the act, and you know thats the only way that they'll take him in. Besides, if he's that sick and twisted, he probably enjoyed getting beat on by those girls.

[Ender]

Very good points by both sides. I try to reverse situations when i look at things like this....would the situation be different if it was a woman who exposed herself and a group of boys beat her up?

just food for thought.

[Jay Bell]

This guy sounds like a runner-up for a Darwin Award.

Unfortunately, the Darwin Award is only given to those who can no longer procreate....unless some of those stomp kicks landed really well :D

As far to the issue with laws and whatnot. Law and Justice are two different things. Some law is justice and some justice isn't law. I think the man got exactly what he deserves.

[hardheadjarhead]

White Birch makes a good point...as this story reads, it was a vigilante action...well, sort of. More of a spontaneous mob action, but one seeking "rough justice". Vigilante action is probably more organized.

I still got a kick out of it, though. The guy was a predator, regardless of whether he ever touched a girl or not. The logical side of me says that from a legal point of view, there was no justification for this action on the part of the girls. The emotional side of me says "Yea, rah...go team!"

Stuff like this provides a sort of catharsis...not only for the girls in question but for readers as well. We get sick and tired of hearing about guys who do this and worse, and we can do so little about it. Incidents like this compensate for that impotence. We get vicarious revenge...and these girls are the instrument of action in this case.

It doesn't make it right, of course, but it makes us feel better in some primal way. We get to lower ourselves on the evolutionary ladder for awhile. We get to think below the civil standard. We get down to the level of the predator.

That can be a frightening, but satisfying thing.



SCS

[theletch1]

It doesn't make it right, of course, but it makes us feel better in some primal way. We get to lower ourselves on the evolutionary ladder for awhile. We get to think below the civil standard. We get down to the level of the predator Yes, indeed, it makes us feel better! Time after time we hear of repeat offenders committing atrocious crimes because they have learned absolutely nothing short jail terms, psychotherapy, probation. Would I "lower" myself to beating on the guy if those had been my girls? Damn right, I would. This country has a legal system, not a justice system. Once in a while animals must be treated as such. I can't even get myself to write a coherent post here so I'll leave it until I can.
:asian:

[Touch Of Death]

Originally posted by Crouching Tiger
"Violence should only be used in a real self-defense situation and only until you can get away. You have no right to chase the guy to punish him for his actions. It is not only against the law, it is dangerous. In my opinion, these girls should be charged with assault. There was no excuse for their actions."

I could not agree more.
Foul,
If someone antagonizes a mob, the mob will rule. Sure the girls could have just walked away but they were no longer individules. That guy is just going to have to tack that up to one of the stupidest things he has ever done move on to less threatening targets.
Sean

[Zepp]

Originally posted by Touch'O'Death
That guy is just going to have to tack that up to one of the stupidest things he has ever done move on to less threatening targets.

Better yet, let's hope he gets some serious help and gives up on targeting anyone.

[hardheadjarhead]

I've heard that "flashing", or exhibitionism, is easily treatable. That maybe be voyeurism I'm thinking about...I'm not up on the stats with that.

This guy either didn't get the treatment, or it didn't work. Maybe this will open up his mind to change a bit...?

SCS

[Touch Of Death]

Originally posted by hardheadjarhead
I've heard that "flashing", or exhibitionism, is easily treatable. That maybe be voyeurism I'm thinking about...I'm not up on the stats with that.

This guy either didn't get the treatment, or it didn't work. Maybe this will open up his mind to change a bit...?

SCS
It was a positive experience on some levels. ;)

[Ceicei]

Originally posted by Touch'O'Death
That guy is just going to have to tack that up to one of the stupidest things he has ever done move on to less threatening targets.
Sean

I hope he won't move on to much younger and more vulnerable targets...

- Ceicei

[hardheadjarhead]

At the very least I would hope that he doesn't escalate beyond "flashing". This guy has been nailed for crimes like this a number of times. Makes one wonder what has to be done to get him to quit.

SCS