Pretend you’re a juror.

Posted by $ CBJ 8 years, 3 months ago to Philosophy
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Person A steals Person B’s car, and is caught. During his trial, it is revealed that Person B bought the car with the proceeds of a theft that he himself committed. Person B’s victim has since died and left no heirs. Person A, who is on trial, argues that he did not commit theft, since Person B is not the legitimate owner of the car – in fact, there is no legitimate owner. You are on the jury. Do you think Person A is guilty of theft or not?


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  • Posted by CircuitGuy 8 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Let's call Person B's victim Person C.
    I say Person C could sue Person B and get a judgment that would force Person B to sell assets and garnish wages to pay damages to Person C. The police might save Person C the trouble my charging Person B with a crime and making restitution to Person C part of the criminal penalty. This is helpful to Person C b/c there's no debtors' prison, but criminal court could give Person B the choice of jail or making restitution, an indirect debtors' prison.

    But I say the car belonged to Person B, even though he happens to be a thief himself.
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  • Posted by $ 8 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    So if Person B's victim were still alive, he would have no moral or legal claim on anything Person B purchased with the money he stole from that victim?
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  • Posted by CircuitGuy 8 years, 3 months ago
    The car really did belong to Person B even though he bought it with stolen money. Person B is guilty of theft of money, but the car is his. Person A stole it from him.
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  • Posted by $ allosaur 8 years, 3 months ago
    Guilty. Person A stole a car. Period. Let go, he may next steal my car or your car. Maybe both our cars.
    Recall when I was a corrections officers, thieves were the real scum among inmates.
    I also recall a Brit contract murderer who got along with everybody and was polite to the officers.
    Murderers aren't hard to boss, but that's only general prison population relatively speaking.
    The prison I worked at IS named after an officer who got murdered by a cop killer in a segregation unit that was not part of death row.
    Shoulda been death row! Thanks, justice system.
    By the way, when a gangsta Glocks a gangsta, a quick drop from the end of a rope is too good for him..
    To hell with all the so-called "humane" goody two-shoes medicate them unto oblivion and get sued if you mess it up bull crap.
    A bullet is cheaper than a rope, by the way.
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  • Posted by Enyway 8 years, 3 months ago
    Whether person B stole the money to buy the car, he did buy it. That makes him the legal owner, provided all the legalities for buying a car have been met. So, person A is guilty and person B, who lucked out, can only be prosecuted for for stealing from his victim. Ideally, both should go to jail because they are both guilty of a crime. Sad that only person A can be prosecuted and should be found guilty.
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  • Posted by fredtyg 8 years, 3 months ago
    I'd say gulty. Stealing is stealing. You can't nullify that by getting rid of the victim.
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  • Posted by $ WilliamShipley 8 years, 3 months ago
    Guilty. No matter how Person B got possession of the car, Person A took it by force.
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