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In Detroit today a man was sentenced to prison for fatally shooting a burglar who had left the man's house and was reportedly standing with his hands over his head.

The homeowner had originally been charged with murder, but that charge was dismissed by a judge after a trial jury deadlocked.

He was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to the minimum two-year sentence required by Michigan law.

The prosecutor said he would appeal the sentence because it was too lenient.

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http://www.examiner.com/crime-in-detroi ... conviction" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The homeowner had been the victim of burglars twice in a few weeks before the incident, probably accounting for sympathy from members of the first jury. However, he ran his mouth after the incident without acquiring legal counsel.

- Jim

sounds like the homeowner is catching a huge break here (if the article is presenting the facts correctly). You simply cannot shoot a man who is standing in front of you, unarmed, with his hands up in surrender.

I wouldn't call a felony conviction and two years in the slammer a huge break.

You are correct, it is illegal to exercise rough justice on a criminal who has fled from the crime scene and surrendered. However, when the adrenaline gets pumping, this kind of thing can happen.

This is one of many reasons that chasing criminals after the threat to life has been removed is not a great idea.

- Jim