Police: Slain Intruder Had Criminal Record

[GreenStormCloud]

http://wjz.com/wireapnewsmd/Police.Slain.intruder.2.1599491.html

PERRY HALL, Md. (AP) ― Baltimore County police say an intruder slain by a homeowner in Perry Hall had a long criminal record, including a stretch in prison for attempted murder.

Twenty-nine-year-old Marvin Cook was shot and killed early Sunday inside the home of 68-year-old William Bozman.

Police say Bozman woke up to see Cook standing over him with a handgun. The towing company owner got his own gun and shot Cook several times when the intruder began walking toward him.

Police are investigating, and prosecutors will determine whether any charges should be filed against Bozman.

Cook was convicted of attempted murder in March 2002 and given a 10-year sentence. He was released after serving 5 1/2 years. He's also been convicted on drug charges.

Why was this goblin set free by the criminal justice system?

[MadMaddie]

1. Seems this scenario is played over and over again...

Glad the homeowner is okay!

[virgogal]

2. If he had served his full term he'd still be alive. Good riddance.

[X_Digger]

3. Dupe'ish, but more information than previous story.

5.5 years for murder?!? wtf

[Katya Mullethov]

4. Catch and release kills more than just a buncha fish

But it FEELS.... so-good !

[proteus_lives]

5. What a shock.

Sounds like Mr. Cook earned his fate.

[east texas lib]

6. Yet another example of the self balancing nature of the universe...

The scales of reality sometimes achieve slightly different results than the scales of justice.

[Caliman73]

7. I don't understand this.

I am not defending Cook or saying that Bozman was not justified or correct in defending himself with lethal force. I just don't get the "goblin" calls, the "good riddance", and such when we are talking about something that is a horrible event for all involved. As I have said in other threads, I am a gun owner and I would likely have done the same to defend myself or a loved one had someone been in my home as Bozman describes.

It appears that Mr. Cook was attempting to harm Mr. Bozman in some way. How, we will never know. The thing is we don't know why he was released from prison. Typically, depending in several factors including the crime, sentencing guidelines, prison capacity, etc...some people serve between 1/3 to 2/3 of their sentence. We don't know what the attempted murder charge was about. We don't know what the drug charges were about. We know from Bozman's account, that Cook was inside Bozman's home and apparently had a weapon. How Bozman was able to get to wake up, get to his gun, and fire effectively prior to Cook getting off a shot is a mystery.

Again, I just have to disagree with the positive portrayal of someone being killed. If Bozman was defending himself as he claims then it is good that he was not harmed physically, though he may still carry the scars of the fright and of having to kill someone. The only positive outcome in this situation is that Bozman was not hurt or killed. If the story is not as Bozman claims, then people here were celebrating the death of a person just because he had a criminal record and had served their time according to the Maryland DOC. Just something to think about.

[one-eyed fat man]

8. I have thought about it.

Assuming the facts are as they appear on their face, another career criminal had his career cut short by his erstwhile victim.

If the bulk of crime is committed by a small minority of repeat offenders, it would stand to reason the reducing the number of the habitual criminals on the street should help reduce crime.

That a while in commission of yet another felony, a career felon gets himself killed is a net gain for society. I can muster no sympathy for someone who has made a life of assaulting, terrorizing, and stealing from innocent people. I cannot fathom a justice system that locks people up for years for trying to poison themselves with heroin or cocaine, but lets those who have habitually demonstrated their proclivity to beat, rob and kill roam the streets.

[Caliman73]

9. What proclivity?

We know that Cook had done time for attempted murder, which is a serious offense, but we do not know the details of the offense. We do not know exactly why he was there at Bozman's house though he had no reason to be there without permission and from that Bozman described, without any information to the contrary, he had a right to defend himself. We know that he had drug problems which you admit is not a reason to lock someone up. Regardless of whether you can fathom it or not, people do get locked up for innocuous use or possession charges depending on the jurisdiction. If you or anyone else has any solid proof other than a conviction to show what a terror to society Cook was, then bring it forward. The Innocence Project has shown that people are sometimes put away for many years for what we would consider horrific crimes, based on insufficient evidence later to be overturned.

I am not defending the actions of Cook here. I don't know enough about him or the situation to say whether he was a monster or whether there was something else going on in that house. All we have is a dead person who had a criminal record, and a businessman who shot the man claiming self defense. I can accept the self defense claim and if it happened like Bozman said, I am glad he survived. I just think that praising any death continues give some validity to people on the other side of the firearms issue that gun owners "just like them some good old fashion killin".

I accept and can even understand the relief and that sense of justice when a person is able to defend themselves against an aggressor with whatever implement they have available. I just think that overall it is a negative thing to celebrate death or dehumanize people.

[one-eyed fat man]

10. Look again at what I said.

First, on the specific case in question, I qualified my statement by say if things are in fact as they appear on their face.

Second, while I understand there might be innocent people locked up, do you refuse to admit that there are some stone cold killers running loose? There are career criminals who started stealing from their mother's purse as children, beating up other kids for their lunch money and have been knocking over convenience stores a couple times a week for most of their lives, except while in jail? They gleefully commit whatever mayhem they desire for no other reason then they like the look of abject terror on their victims' faces. Some goon on bail from his last stick-up goes gunning for the witnesses and one of them shoots him, well don't wait on me to be all tore up over it.

A cockroach at least fills a niche in the ecology, what use is a predatory career criminal? Is it so the cops with someone to chase and lawyers have someone to defend?

If you truly believe that they are all just misunderstood and acting out as a plea for help because of the economic downturn then you have never seen real evil! Like it or not, the fact remains that once a perpetual malefactor gets himself shot, he absolutely and positively quits doing what got him killed. One less thug has got to be a net benefit to society.

[Caliman73]

11. That is how our system works.

Rather 100 guilty people go free than 1 innocent man....and all that. Of course I acknowledge that there are people out there that should be incarcerated. I have seen my share of evil thank you very much. There are definitely people without remorse, without restraint, and without compassion. I have worked with people like that. That issue has not been the point of my posting at all.

I am not expecting that anyone shed any tears over Cook's death I am just expressing my difference of opinion about the seeming joy that people have or the cavalier attitude expressed when someone kills someone else.

You are as always, free to say and feel what you want. That is just the way I see things.