ok, so i was wondering today....and it kept bugging me so i have to ask, lol sorry if this is kinda weird. so, if someone was out, in the middle of nowhere in thw woods, and saw what they thought was a "bigfoot", and they got a chance to shoot it, with the gun they happened to have. now they shoot this animal and kill it. but when they walk over to it, they realise that it is a person in a costume. (i know,i know, stop laughing)
what would happen? would the guy be charged with murder? manslaughter? what?
2007-11-22 14:11:21 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
It would depend on a number of variables. Was it legal to discharge a firearm in that location? Was it an animal whose taking falls within the jurisdiction of the state's hunting regulations? (Some animals are considered pests and can be shot at will, others require hunting permits).
In this case, since the way you put the question was 'they got a chance to shoot it' instead of 'they felt threatened and defended themselves', shooting anything remotely as mythical and rare as a bigfoot simply because you had a chance to would, in my opinion, look to the authorities like a definite crime. Having it turn out to be a person would most likely result in a charge of criminally negligent homicide and not manslaughter. You were negligent in that you were shooting at something you did not believe was a person but were not supposed to be shooting at. Much different than the accidental shooting of another hunter.
2007-11-22 14:26:39 · answer #1 · answered by curtisports2 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It depends on whether they should have known it was really a person. I.e., was the costume really convincing or not? Was the person disregarding the risk that it was a person? If there was no way that the shooter could have/should have known that it was a person in a costume, I don't think any charges would be brought. If, on the other hand, the shooter was drunk, stupid, or high, they'll throw the book at 'em.
2007-11-22 22:15:22 · answer #2 · answered by no5no5 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably not be charged at all. The man in the bigfoot costume didn't wear an orange vest on top of it. Game lands require orange when it is hunting season.
It depends on the circumstances. what time of year. where this took place.etc
2007-11-22 22:44:45 · answer #3 · answered by A.D. 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know what the law is but I would think that providing that it was hunting season, and that hunting is permitted in that area and that you have a permit for your gun...you get the point..you would probably not be held accountable. If Bigfoot is not wearing a big orange vest, then I believe that he is at fault.
2007-11-22 22:17:26 · answer #4 · answered by B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
... charged with manslaughter ... and I'm definately not laughing. Accidentally killing someone is a terrible tragedy that should have been avoided. A hunter should always 100% identify his target before shooting.
2007-11-22 22:24:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Worst case voluntary manslaughter. Best case accident.
2007-11-22 22:15:32 · answer #6 · answered by Ricky J. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Definitely murder, although not premeditated. Manslaughter usually applies to accidental death. The act of raising a weapon, taking aim, and pulling a trigger implies circumstances that are not accidental.
2007-11-22 22:17:13 · answer #7 · answered by Griffin 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I remember a news story that a man killed his wife with a hammer in their garage because he thought she was a raccoon.
I'm thinking that it would depend on the D.A.
2007-11-22 22:14:52 · answer #8 · answered by justanotherone 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, That person will be charged with second degree murder because there is no premeditation.
2007-11-22 22:17:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
well it would be murder...................i know its kinda odd but you have to really think and look at the situation as if you were in the court room.............this would be murder because even though you didnt try to make that mistake you still took a persons life ..............but there are the odds of the court room looking at you as if you crazy (LOL)
2007-11-22 22:18:34 · answer #10 · answered by Nisha314 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋