What I fail to understand in all this, is that he is claiming it wasn't premeditated murder, and that he thought he was shooting an intruder. What is the difference between shooting dead your girlfriend through a bathroom door, and shooting dead a burglar through a bathroom door? In each case you shoot dead someone who wasn't threatening you, so you can't claim it was in self-defence.
If somebody breaks into your house, you are entitled to kill that person under certain circumstances. If the burglar runs away and you kill that person anyway, you could be exceeding the bounds of self-defence. If, however, you are faced with a situation where you fear for your life or safety, you would be entitled to kill the intruder.South African courts understand that these scenarios happen very quickly, usually at night. A householder cannot sit down and decide objectively exactly what should be done. You could reasonably expect any intruder to be armed and capable of doing you harm. The courts tend to accept a broad definition of self-defence.
realised that Laura wasn't in bed...
I thought he thought his wife was away and was not due back for days hence when he heard someone in the house he shot first and then realised it was his wife being back early
If i thought that there was someone in my house at nighttime.... and realised that Laura wasn't in bed... wouldn't it be the logical thing to presume that the noise i can hear is her>? Instead of clubbing the 'intruder' around the head.
Your average burglar doesnt lock themselves in the bathroom. Unless they are obsessive self harming burglars.Maybe he thought it was the wank bandit, secretly breaks in and has a right hand shuffle in your shower.
