A man who was shot to death after breaking into a car sparked a grand jury hearing.
On October 9, 2011, a Blacklick man confronted 28-year-old Sean Stiffler who was breaking into a neighbors car on Bollengen Road on the city’s far east side.
The case begs the question: when can you claim self defense?
911 caller: “He went into his pocket and drew a gun on me. I thought he had a gun and my life was in danger.”
A Franklin County grand jury looked at the facts from the shooting and decided Wednesday not to indict the neighbor who shot and killed Stiffler.
NBC4 is not naming the neighbor because he was never charged.
“The right to self defense entitles someone to use deadly force if they believe from a subjective standpoint that their life or another person’s life is in danger,” said Ron O’Brien, Franklin County prosecutor.
The person using the deadly force must not have started the confrontation.
“In some instances you may have to retreat and or give a warning,” O’Brien said. “In some cases you may have to resort to less than deadly force.”
The prosecutor said the grand jury looks at all of these definitions before ruling for self defense.
A legal expert said the right to self defense has been in place since common law rule was the only law of the land.
“The laws have worked for him and he’s been acquitted, so we are thrilled about the outcome of this case,” said Linda Walker, spokesperson for Buckeye Firearms Association.
NBC4 tried to contact the neighbor involved in the shooting, but he did not respond.
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