Ticos Fight Back
Monday, December 29th, 2008A businessman shot and killed two thieves who had just robbed him of ¢990,000 (about $1,833) as they allegedly fired on him while trying to speed away on their motorcycles in La Uruca, on the northwest side of San José earlier this month.
A passing messenger pulled out his gun and joined in.
Last week, a 12-year-old girl shot and killed a 31-year-old man who tried to rape her in the Caribbean province of Limón . He fled, but only made it 50 meters from the house before collapsing in front of a church.
The businessman has already been cleared in the shooting. Given the wide leeway granted by Costa Rican law, the girl, too, will likely be found to have been as justified in killing her attacker.
According to Paul Chaves, a private legal consultant, three requirements must be met for a victim to use deadly force: The first is that there be an imminent attack without provocation; second, no other option is available to prevent the attack; and third, the victim does not employ excessive force against the attacker.
It is legal to act in defense of yourself, or in the defense of another person in imminent danger.
But it is illegal to fire on someone if they’re running away from you. (more…)
