# My neighbor is a bullying, wife-beating coward and I took him to court today **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 9, 2004, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-a-bullying-wife-beating-coward-and-i-took-him-to-court-today/268320 "2004-10-09T03:19:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2004, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-a-bullying-wife-beating-coward-and-i-took-him-to-court-today/268320/21 "2004-10-09T15:40:46Z")
Is this guy just randomly nuts, or does he have some actual purpose or end game in mind in these actions? ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2004, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-a-bullying-wife-beating-coward-and-i-took-him-to-court-today/268320/22 "2004-10-09T16:10:35Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > The part about advocating baseball bats and shotguns full of rock salt? Just a guess 😉 There’s a law against that? Pity - not that I’m advocating it, but in my experience the only problem that can’t be solved by killing a fucktard is the problem of where to store an ever growing number of dead bodies. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2004, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-a-bullying-wife-beating-coward-and-i-took-him-to-court-today/268320/23 "2004-10-09T17:50:53Z")
I don’t know if your policeman/neighbor is allowed to do this, but a background check might be in order. I would bet that he has left a trail of frustrated and frightened neighbors behind. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2004, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-a-bullying-wife-beating-coward-and-i-took-him-to-court-today/268320/24 "2004-10-09T17:51:26Z")
Yeah, somehow, they always manage to do their thing and get away with it, but giving it right back to them is against the law. There is something wrong with that. ---
**Author:** ![MrTuffPaws](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@MrTuffPaws](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrTuffPaws)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2004, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-a-bullying-wife-beating-coward-and-i-took-him-to-court-today/268320/25 "2004-10-09T18:07:49Z")
Good luck, this guy sounds like he has been doing this for a long time, and knows the limits of the law. Have you considered filing for a restraining order against him? That would keep him away from you, and if he violated your space, then he would be in jail. > [@](#): > > banged on my front door as I stood on the other side yelling at him to leave. You home alone with the kids? If this happens again, call 911 immediately. Don’t threaten to call, don’t say you will, then do it. Just demand he leave once, if not, then call 911. Let the police deal with it. If you are in fear for your life, or in fear of harm, then you can consider self defense options. If the above happened to MrsTuffPaws, I hope she would call 911 and arm her self, and await the arrival of the police. If the door goes down, I hope she puts him down. ---
**Author:** ![harmless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/2acd7d/32.png) [@harmless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmless)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2004, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-a-bullying-wife-beating-coward-and-i-took-him-to-court-today/268320/26 "2004-10-09T22:17:25Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > I don’t know if your policeman/neighbor is allowed to do this, but a background check might be in order. I would bet that he has left a trail of frustrated and frightened neighbors behind. OOh! Or better yet, some outstanding warrants that might could put him away for a little while! This type of asshole is bound to have something. Good luck with it and be safe. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2004, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-a-bullying-wife-beating-coward-and-i-took-him-to-court-today/268320/27 "2004-10-09T23:27:08Z")
I remember reading somewhere here - or may be it was Serenity’s Journal (a blog) - that in Texas you’re perfectly entitled to shoot the guy if he’s on your land. Is Georgia the same? Bullies tend to back down when someone stands up to them ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2004, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-a-bullying-wife-beating-coward-and-i-took-him-to-court-today/268320/28 "2004-10-10T01:54:53Z")
I don’t think there is anywhere in the US that you are legally entitled to shoot someone just for being on your property. There have been cases where homeowners have shot and wounded people burglarizing their homes, only to be (successfully) sued by the burglars. **Maybe** if you were convinced your life were in danger and you were protecting yourself you could get away with a self-defense plea, but even that wouldn’t be certain. ---
**Author:** ![MrTuffPaws](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@MrTuffPaws](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrTuffPaws)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2004, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-a-bullying-wife-beating-coward-and-i-took-him-to-court-today/268320/29 "2004-10-10T06:37:10Z")
Most any state’s laws will state that you have to be in fear of great harm or you life before deadly force can be used. Check your local laws, but I am pretty sure that having to scream at the guy to get him to leave and stop banging on your door is being fearful of harm or loss of life. What ever sulamith does, she needs to not under estimate the situation. When your kid’s lives and your own life may be at risk, why take a chance? She did do the right thing and start a legal paper trail. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2004, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-a-bullying-wife-beating-coward-and-i-took-him-to-court-today/268320/30 "2004-10-10T13:29:37Z")
You’re in Georgia ain’t ya? IIRC when I lived in Hinesville the sher’ff explained with somejocularity that if you shoot a trespasser you need to bring 'em into the house before the cops show up. If said yahoo was a known creep (or Yankee) there wouldn’t be a lot of questions asked. Just a thought. Certainly wouldn’t want to advocate any violence–‘specially if I’m wrong. Does Georgia have a "he needed killin’" defense? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2004, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-a-bullying-wife-beating-coward-and-i-took-him-to-court-today/268320/31 "2004-10-10T14:38:51Z")
> [@](#): > > Check your local laws, but I am pretty sure that having to scream at the guy to get him to leave and stop banging on your door is being fearful of harm or loss of life. In high school I had a class called “Students and the Law”. Basically, it was about not using drugs, not shoplifting, etc. The teacher was a retired cop. He told a story about a woman who had a ranting man outside of her locked front door. The man was banging on the door and shouting “I’m going to kill you!” She shot him through the door and killed him. Neighbours testified that they heard the man shouting death threats. The woman was not charged. (Or if she was charged, she wasn’t convicted.) In this country we have the “reasonable man” test: What would a reasonable person do in a given situation. Here’s the problem with the case in this thread: Would authorities or a jury find that a man banging on a door constitutes an immediate grave threat? Or would they find that since the door was locked and the man was not breaking it down, the woman was not in immediate danger? Would they believe a reasonable person would grab a gun and shoot through the door? Or would they believe that a reasonable person would call 911 for emergency assistance, and not use a gun until the man is actually attacking? I don’t disagree that the woman has the right to protect herself or her family from attack; but she can’t just shoot someone without reasonable cause. I like the idea of videotaping the man whenever he tresspasses or commits an offence on the property. But a court and jury might find that videotaping him when he’s not on the property might constitute provocation. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2004, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-a-bullying-wife-beating-coward-and-i-took-him-to-court-today/268320/32 "2004-10-10T15:32:20Z")
There are two problem with the “reasonable man” defense. One, it sounds like it depends on having witnesses. Otherwise it becomes his word against yours 9if he lives). Second, it does not take into account whether this was a chronic ongoing abuse situation. Once again, it looks like the law defends the scumbags. Get a videocam and keep your lawyer in the loop. Be prepared for the day he actually does force his way into the house. It may never happen, but if it does Mister Baseball Bat can be a very good friend. ---
**Author:** ![MrTuffPaws](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@MrTuffPaws](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrTuffPaws)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2004, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-a-bullying-wife-beating-coward-and-i-took-him-to-court-today/268320/33 "2004-10-10T18:44:44Z")
Now where did I state to shoot the guy while he was on the other side of the door. I did not mean for it to sound that way. What I tried to get at was if he tried to force the door, then there would be pretty much no way a jury would find fault in the shooter. ---
**Author:** ![aaslatten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@aaslatten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaslatten)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2004, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-a-bullying-wife-beating-coward-and-i-took-him-to-court-today/268320/34 "2004-10-10T19:20:37Z")
> [@sulamith](#): > > Long story short, the sorry sac o’ shit renting the house next door to me (only renter on the street and he lands next to me) You lost me there. ---
**Author:** ![Voodoochile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/898d66/32.png) [@Voodoochile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voodoochile)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2004, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-a-bullying-wife-beating-coward-and-i-took-him-to-court-today/268320/35 "2004-10-10T19:38:47Z")
I think trying to do it the ‘right’ way for these types of things is a complete waste of time and money. Im with spooge, I wouldnt have wasted taxpayers time with this but dealt with it myself in a physical and, if ultimately necessary, final way. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2004, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-a-bullying-wife-beating-coward-and-i-took-him-to-court-today/268320/36 "2004-10-10T19:43:01Z")
> [@Voodoochile](#): > > I think trying to do it the ‘right’ way for these types of things is a complete waste of time and money. Im with spooge, I wouldnt have wasted taxpayers time with this but dealt with it myself in a physical and, if ultimately necessary, final way. And then wasted taxpayers’ time and money with the murder charges against you. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2004, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-a-bullying-wife-beating-coward-and-i-took-him-to-court-today/268320/37 "2004-10-10T19:47:42Z")
I would bet dollars to donuts that the only people the landlord knows he’s renting to are a nice, sweet lady with a couple of well-behaved kids. Try to find out who owns the house and let him know what’s going on. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2004, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-a-bullying-wife-beating-coward-and-i-took-him-to-court-today/268320/38 "2004-10-10T20:08:15Z")
Videotape him. If it is called provocation, well tough shit. Your lawyer could probably still figure out a way to use it. Get the neighbors on your side, as witnesses. Get the police neighbor involved. If you have to, start filing restraining orders, charge him with trespassing and vandalism, anything that will stick. Look into filing something against his landlord. If he usually does his “thing” while your husband is at work, have a large relative stop by often. If his wife is all beat up, report him as a “concerned citizen”. Have the neighbors report him too. Report him for everything he does. Even if it comes to nothing right now, at least there will be a record of it. If the wife’s relatives still care what happens to her, maybe you could find a way to give them a call and they can take care of him. It used to be, in places like Louisiana, you could shoot him as soon as he reached your doorstep. It isn’t that way anymore. In Texas, it used to be that if anyone made a death threat you could shoot him right then and there. It isn’t that way anymore. All you can do is become a major pain in the ass and hopefully, he will move away. It’s a shame, that any of the things you might do (which are the only things he will understand) or would work, would land you in jail instead of him. It’s a shame the law lets him get away with it, but does not let you do much about it. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2004, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-a-bullying-wife-beating-coward-and-i-took-him-to-court-today/268320/39 "2004-10-10T23:30:24Z")
> [@aaslatten](#): > > You lost me there. The sorry sack of shit is the only renter on the street, and they ended up next door to the OP. Clear as crystal. ---
**Author:** ![Voodoochile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/898d66/32.png) [@Voodoochile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voodoochile)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-a-bullying-wife-beating-coward-and-i-took-him-to-court-today/268320/40 "2004-10-11T03:05:12Z")
> [@Ferret Herder](#): > > And then wasted taxpayers’ time and money with the murder charges against you. Well, the vast majority of murders in this country are never solved. But of course they have to keep the course theyve chosen, theyve allready gone to the police and are on record as having a problem with the guy. A baseball bat would have been more effective and cheaper from the beginning. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-a-bullying-wife-beating-coward-and-i-took-him-to-court-today/268320.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbor-is-a-bullying-wife-beating-coward-and-i-took-him-to-court-today/268320.md?page=3)