# Cheating Wife Sends Fake Burgler to Scare Husband, Who Cuts Burgler's Throat **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 14, 2013, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheating-wife-sends-fake-burgler-to-scare-husband-who-cuts-burglers-throat/647134 "2013-01-14T04:48:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheating-wife-sends-fake-burgler-to-scare-husband-who-cuts-burglers-throat/647134/41 "2013-01-14T20:28:02Z")
Then you should probably stop your hijack. Move along, nothing to see here. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheating-wife-sends-fake-burgler-to-scare-husband-who-cuts-burglers-throat/647134/42 "2013-01-14T20:47:13Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > NRA will insist all buglers carry assault rifles now. What about the players of valved brass instruments? _Won’t someone think of the trumpeters?_ > [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …not wanting to hijack the thread any further: but you made the statement “The felony murder doctrine is not particularly controversial.” Well it is. Even in the United States where it is codified in 46 States people think its a stupid idea. Even in this very thread people think that charging people for murder when they didn’t actually commit the murder is hard to understand. To claim that the felony murder doctrine is not particularly controversial is incorrect. > > Friedo simply stated that felony murder doctrine is not particularly controversial. I simply pointed out that he was incorrect. The location of the crime is irrelevant to his statement. Then you should have made a more detailed and reasoned response rather than just saying “this is not correct.” ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheating-wife-sends-fake-burgler-to-scare-husband-who-cuts-burglers-throat/647134/43 "2013-01-14T22:26:43Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > And this is exactly why all fake burglars need to have real guns. No, it means that it should be compulsary for everyone to carry replica guns. > [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > So was the husband scared? He charged some gunmen with just a knife… I don’t think so > [@Giles](#): > > I think it still exists where I live: according to Section 18 (1) (a) of the New South Wales Crimes Act: I live in NSW too, I’ll be very careful the next time I commit a crime. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheating-wife-sends-fake-burgler-to-scare-husband-who-cuts-burglers-throat/647134/44 "2013-01-15T00:03:09Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > It sounded like the apartment, or its tenancy right, was joint property. In that case the fake burglars, staging a play at joint tenant’s request, may not have been committing a crime. While they may have been on the premises lawfully, by invitation, threatening to assault with a weapon someone who doesn’t know it’s a “play” is likely a crime. ---
**Author:** ![Danger\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Danger\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danger_Man)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheating-wife-sends-fake-burgler-to-scare-husband-who-cuts-burglers-throat/647134/45 "2013-01-15T00:10:58Z")
How would the case be different if instead they had to climb up the wall to get to the apartment and one of the fake burglars fell to his death? ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheating-wife-sends-fake-burgler-to-scare-husband-who-cuts-burglers-throat/647134/46 "2013-01-15T00:21:10Z")
> [@Namkcalb](#): > > He charged some gunmen with just a knife… I don’t think so Depending on the exact distances involved, it may not be as crazy as it sounds. If the knife-wielder can get inside the reach of the guy with the handgun, it gets ugly for the gunman very quickly. Law enforcement training has often referred to a “21 foot rule” in relation to edged weapons–an average attacker on level ground can cover 21 feet in the time it takes an average officer to draw a holstered pistol and snap off two shots. If the pistol is already drawn, but not aimed, that distance is reduced, of course. It’s still not a safe bet in even moderately close quarters, though. It probably starts getting dicey (sorry) at about 10 feet. Less than 7 feet, and the gunman is in trouble if it’s not already aimed. (If it is, the knife-wielder is pretty much gambling that the first shot will miss.) Dan Inosanto did a set of [demonstrations](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9igSoJHEdUo) for police years ago. The relevant part, with simulated knife attacks from different ranges, starts [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9igSoJHEdUo#t=1m26s). (Though the rest of it is worth watching, too.) _Mythbusters_ has a [segment](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=posfSTQSBqU) with similar tests. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheating-wife-sends-fake-burgler-to-scare-husband-who-cuts-burglers-throat/647134/47 "2013-01-15T00:31:15Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > This is common. A friend of mine threw a party in an abandoned barn. There was a campfire which got out of control and burned down the building. Firefighters let it burn down rather than fight the blaze. The next morning a Fire Dept person was inspecting the site and fell and sprained his ankle. My friend who threw the party was charged criminally for the injury and had to pay medical bills and restitution. > > I forget the exact charge, but he was in and out of court for a while and basically every cent he earned from his part time job went towards legal bills and fines for a long time. That’s fucked up; I’d have thought that would be worker’s comp case, not assault. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheating-wife-sends-fake-burgler-to-scare-husband-who-cuts-burglers-throat/647134/48 "2013-01-15T00:33:59Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > Less than 7 feet, and the gunman is in trouble if it’s not already aimed. And given that the “gunman” knew it was a fake and was just trying to scare the guy, I suspect he wasn’t trying too hard to aim it but just waved the “gun” in the husband’s direction. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheating-wife-sends-fake-burgler-to-scare-husband-who-cuts-burglers-throat/647134/49 "2013-01-15T02:33:11Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > And given that the “gunman” knew it was a fake and was just trying to scare the guy, I suspect he wasn’t trying too hard to aim it but just waved the “gun” in the husband’s direction. Yes, he had quite an unpleasant surprise. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheating-wife-sends-fake-burgler-to-scare-husband-who-cuts-burglers-throat/647134/50 "2013-01-15T02:37:40Z")
> [@Danger\_Man](#): > > How would the case be different if instead they had to climb up the wall to get to the apartment and one of the fake burglars fell to his death? Not different at all? Either way, the conspirators sent him into foreseeably dangerous circumstances, in the commission of a crime. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheating-wife-sends-fake-burgler-to-scare-husband-who-cuts-burglers-throat/647134/51 "2013-01-15T03:43:01Z")
For those wanting more meat on the felony murder doctrine: Guy robs bank, gets away. Police put out call for officer(s) to respond. Cop, responding to said call, loses control of his car and dies in the ensuring crash. The robber just murdered a cop. Yes, this has happened in the USA. Don’t remember when/where - it was a buzz on the 'net a few (5?) years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheating-wife-sends-fake-burgler-to-scare-husband-who-cuts-burglers-throat/647134/52 "2013-01-15T03:56:10Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > For those wanting more meat on the felony murder doctrine: > > Guy robs bank, gets away. > > Police put out call for officer(s) to respond. > > Cop, responding to said call, loses control of his car and dies in the ensuring crash. > > The robber just murdered a cop. > > Yes, this has happened in the USA. Don’t remember when/where - it was a buzz on the 'net a few (5?) years ago. I would think there would be some proximate-cause-like requirement in most jurisdictions. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheating-wife-sends-fake-burgler-to-scare-husband-who-cuts-burglers-throat/647134/53 "2013-01-15T06:04:47Z")
When this finally makes its way to L&O:SVU, the final twist will be that the ex-husband \*knew \*she was sending the fake burglars-- _duhn-duhn_– and that if he killed one of them, his scheming ex-wife would go to prison for murder. Hubby admits this to someone he shouldn’t, gets cuffed, makes a lunge at ex-wifey, gets dragged away yelling. Cut to Dick Wolf credit. ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheating-wife-sends-fake-burgler-to-scare-husband-who-cuts-burglers-throat/647134/54 "2013-01-15T06:34:33Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > Cop, responding to said call, loses control of his car and dies in the ensuring crash. > > The robber just murdered a cop. > > Yes, this has happened in the USA. Don’t remember when/where - it was a buzz on the 'net a few (5?) years ago. Cite? I would be interested to read more. ---
**Author:** ![Danger\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Danger\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danger_Man)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheating-wife-sends-fake-burgler-to-scare-husband-who-cuts-burglers-throat/647134/55 "2013-01-15T08:31:31Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > Not different at all? Either way, the conspirators sent him into foreseeably dangerous circumstances, in the commission of a crime. But it looks like the other accomplices, who I assume was coming with him on the fake burglary, also got charged for murder? So if two guys decide to rob a bank and one of them is killed, the other gets charged with murder? Does that happen? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheating-wife-sends-fake-burgler-to-scare-husband-who-cuts-burglers-throat/647134/56 "2013-01-15T08:48:38Z")
> [@Danger\_Man](#): > > But it looks like the other accomplices, who I assume was coming with him on the fake burglary, also got charged for murder? > > So if two guys decide to rob a bank and one of them is killed, the other gets charged with murder? Does that happen? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheating-wife-sends-fake-burgler-to-scare-husband-who-cuts-burglers-throat/647134/57 "2013-01-15T09:06:17Z")
[This story](http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500164_162-538407.html) may help clarify the underlying concept: one person may do stuff and just be an evil jerk, but when people get together to do stuff, some of the participants might be the not-so-evil types that would not do such stuff of their own accord but the group setting moves them to do that stuff. Hence, the idea is to provide a stronger disincentive toward conspiratorial nastiness, as well as gang violence. Some people may suffer unfairly of it, but the world is full of unfairness. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheating-wife-sends-fake-burgler-to-scare-husband-who-cuts-burglers-throat/647134/58 "2013-01-15T13:58:08Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > When this finally makes its way to L&O:SVU, the final twist will be that the ex-husband \*knew \*she was sending the fake burglars-- _duhn-duhn_– and that if he killed one of them, his scheming ex-wife would go to prison for murder. Hubby admits this to someone he shouldn’t, gets cuffed, makes a lunge at ex-wifey, gets dragged away yelling. Cut to Dick Wolf credit. I don’t understand. Nobody gets shot on the courtroom steps? ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheating-wife-sends-fake-burgler-to-scare-husband-who-cuts-burglers-throat/647134/59 "2013-01-15T14:03:06Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > For those wanting more meat on the felony murder doctrine: > > Guy robs bank, gets away. > > Police put out call for officer(s) to respond. > > Cop, responding to said call, loses control of his car and dies in the ensuring crash. > > The robber just murdered a cop. > > Yes, this has happened in the USA. Don’t remember when/where - it was a buzz on the 'net a few (5?) years ago. Not long ago a news helicopter crashed while covering someone (car chase?), and there was squawk of charging the guy with murder. It didn’t go anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheating-wife-sends-fake-burgler-to-scare-husband-who-cuts-burglers-throat/647134/60 "2013-01-15T14:15:46Z")
> [@Danger\_Man](#): > > But it looks like the other accomplices, who I assume was coming with him on the fake burglary, also got charged for murder? > > So if two guys decide to rob a bank and one of them is killed, the other gets charged with murder? Does that happen? [Here’s an interesting case from the UK.](http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Bentley) It was the basis for the harrowing movie Let Him Have It. The cop shooter was underaged, and escaped the death penalty, and his accomplice was hanged. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheating-wife-sends-fake-burgler-to-scare-husband-who-cuts-burglers-throat/647134.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheating-wife-sends-fake-burgler-to-scare-husband-who-cuts-burglers-throat/647134.md?page=4)