Caleb's Mother Is A Thief!

by Joe Grundy 11 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Joe Grundy

  The definition of theft under the Theft Act 1968 is ‘A person is guilty of theft if he dishonestly appropriates property belonging to another with intention to permanently deprive the other of it’. (England & Wales)
  

  I was a cop (mainly a detective) for 30 years and thought of this after mentioning the Sparlock video during the JW FS visit today. Criminal law is never straight forward but bear with me.

  The facts in the video are, I think, that Caleb brings home the Sparlock toy which he has borrowed from a friend. His mother (or Caleb at her instruction) puts it into the trash from where (presumably) it will go for landfill/incineration/whatever.

  So, to consider:

  The Sparlock toy is real, physical, property.

  It belongs to another - Caleb's friend - and there has been no transfer of ownership, just a 'borrowing'.

  There has been an 'appropriation', which means assuming the rights of ownership, doing what you want with it, which includes destruction.

  'Intent to permanently deprive' would certainly include sending it to landfill or incineration.

  So those elements are adequately covered, I think We are left with 'dishonesty' which in case law and statute law is rather covered in the negative. Does she genuinely believe she has a lawful right to Sparlock? No, she knows it belongs to Caleb's friend. (It matters not that she may be prepared to pay for it.) Does she genuinely believe that the owner would consent to its appropriation (destruction)? There is no ground whatever for that belief (she could have asked him but didn't).

  And so, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I put it to you that the elements of the offence are satisfied and that Caleb's mother is - at least prima facie - guilty of theft.

  (To those who may think that this is trivial - read your local newspaper for reports of people who are convicted of stealing - shoplifting - items of small value.)
  
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  cofty

  Interesting!

  I couldn't bear to watch the video again but did the kid borrow the toy or was he given it as a gift by his friend?
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  Simon

  LOL

  The reality would be that Caleb will be banned from ever playing with that "worshipper of satan" friend ever again and they will use "theocratic warfare strategy" (lies) to claim them that no, they never had the toy ... ever.
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  Joe Grundy

  I stand to be corrected on the 'facts' in the video but I think I remember it was borrowed.

  So Caleb's worldly friend's worldly mum asks for it back, learns it's been trashed and (disliking Caleb's weird parents anyway) calls the Old Bill. She will not let this go. The worldly Old Bill tries to sort this out, but this is 2015, calls and progress are computer-logged. He needs to keep his job, so goes to see Caleb's mum. She denies all knowledge. Worldly Old Bill goes to Caleb's school and interviews Caleb in the presence of a social worker/appropriate adult. Oops!

  Worldly Old Bill goes back to Caleb's mum and arrests her (quite lawfully). In interview (without a lawyer because she doesn't trust worldly lawyers and WTBTS won't send one of theirs) she explains that Jehovah made her do it. Pause for psychiatric assessment. Not quite mad enough to be sectioned but 15 minute observations ordered. Husband turns up at nick with a couple of elders asserting his rights as Theocratic Head of Household. Warned to behave or he'll be arrested too.

  Caleb's mum is given official criminal caution for theft. Caleb is placed on 'At Risk' register.

  At next convention, heart-warming demonstration of given of devotion to Jehovah in the face of persecution. Caleb's mum is, unfortunately, unable to attend. She suffers PTSD after sharing a cell with 'Big Bertha', a drunken bisexual regular arrestee who introduced Caleb's mum to a whole different world.
  
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  stuckinarut2

  Awesome Joe!

  I love the idea that the family will be held up as a "faith-strengthening" example in the face of Satanic and Worldly persecution in a WT or Convention! (when the fact is THEY BROUGHT the 'persecution' onto themselves!!)
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  Village Idiot

  Joe Grundy: "Worldly Old Bill goes back to Caleb's mum and arrests her (quite lawfully)."

  I don't think that the authorities will take the practice of citizen's arrest too well regardless of what the law has to say. Nice story though.
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  cofty

  Village Idiot - "Old Bill" is an affectionate nickname for the British police.
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  cappytan

  Hilarious thought!

  Had to check to see if it was borrowed. Nope. To quote Caleb, "Yeah, my friend gave it to me..."
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  Listener

  Careful, Caleb's mum will sue you for slander.
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  Esse quam videri

  And so, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I put it to you that the elements of the offence are satisfied and that Caleb's mother is - at least prima facie - guilty of theft.

  Judge - What say you?

  Jury - Guilty as charged and WE HATE CALEB'S MOTHER!