A farmer who used a forklift tractor to maneuver a automobile parked on his land has been cleared of harmful driving after telling a jury: ‘An Englishman’s house is his citadel and my citadel begins at that entrance gate.’
Fourth-generation hill farmer Robert Hooper, 57, insisted he had a lawful proper to defend his property, along with his barrister pointing to a 400-year-old precedent set by the legendary jurist Sir Edward Coke.
In a ruling often known as Semayne’s case, Sir Edward established the Frequent Regulation precept that everybody has the suitable to defend their dwelling.
Jurors at this time have been tasked with deciding whether or not the identical precept utilized to an incident involving Mr Hooper in August final 12 months.
Movies performed in courtroom confirmed how Mr Hooper used a telehandler with forks to carry a £16,000 automobile from the lane outdoors his farm in Newbiggin-in-Teesdale, County Durham, flip it, and push it on its aspect on to the street outdoors.
Shirtless passenger Charlie Burns, 21, who had been visiting the world that day and had drunk as much as seven bottles of lager, was knocked to the bottom by the car’s lifting forks.
Mr Hooper had informed the jury that he was punched by Mr Burns when he first politely requested him and the driving force to depart as they have been blocking entry on what was a busy day on the farm.
He informed the courtroom he was conscious of an ‘inflow’ of youths visiting the world that summer time, inflicting anti-social behaviour, taking medication, littering and damaging partitions.
Mr Hooper claimed the youthful man punched him twice within the farm buggy he was driving, splitting his lip.
He informed the courtroom: ‘I assumed it was time to get out of there, and I stated ‘For those who don’t transfer it, I'll’.
‘My thoughts was racing.
‘I assumed ‘We have now a little bit of an issue right here, there’s two of them, half my age’. I didn’t know what that they had by way of weapons, or what they have been able to doing.
‘I assumed if the automobile was off the property, that will be them off the property, out of the way in which.’
Mr Hooper stated he was defending his property and himself.
He stated: ‘I felt threatened and an Englishman’s house is his citadel, and my citadel begins at that entrance gate.’
In his closing speech to the jury, Michael Rawlinson, defending, gave the origin of the saying.
Referring to arguments about how Mr Hooper may have acted in a different way that day, he additionally quoted boxer Mike Tyson, saying: ‘Everybody has a plan till they get punched within the mouth.’
Supporters cheered Mr Hooper outdoors Durham Crown Court docket after a jury cleared him of harmful driving and legal injury following a four-day trial.
After the case, his associate, Kate Henderson, learn an announcement which stated: ‘The overwhelming assist of the area people and other people from afar have saved him going throughout these final eight months of hell.
‘We welcome the jury’s verdict and are grateful for it.’
Giving proof, Mr Burns stated he had been ingesting with mates at Low Power waterfall and was desiring to stroll 52 miles again to South Tyneside.
He informed the jury he then noticed his good friend, Elliott Johnson, whose Corsa had suffered a double puncture, which was why they parked within the farmer’s lane.
In his closing remarks, David Ward, prosecuting, informed the jury the Crown was not saying that Mr Hooper was a ‘thug’, however that his actions have been ‘totally irrational’ that day.
Decide Ray Singh had outlined routes to verdicts for the jury, explaining the legislation surrounding self-defence and a defendant defending himself and his property.
Exterior courtroom, Teesdale farmers who have been there to assist Mr Hooper welcomed the verdicts.
William Wearmouth informed reporters: ‘He's completely first-class.
‘He's a hard-working man, he'll assist anybody with something.
‘It’s nice to see that the jury has realised this.’
John Dickinson stated: ‘It’s a extremely good outcome for the native space.
‘Robert is a really respectable, upstanding man who shouldn’t should have gone by way of all this.’
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