January 17, 2006

UK law gives you the right to sue your hitman, if he breaches contract.
posted by Skrik 18 years ago
  • But, wouldn't she be also in trouble, for inciting, promoting and financing an illegal act? Sheeez, couldn't she just get a £2 bottle of sleeping pills? Or... *head explodes*
  • I'm not sure that's what it says. Under the common law, illegal contracts are not enforceable. The judge's statement at the end suggests a more ordinary fraud action, as "it is clear you had no intention of arranging for someone to kill Mrs Ryder and didn’t propose to yourself, you deceived her into believing it would happen. An action based on fraud would not be precluded by illegality, as the representations need only to be false. Besides, an action based in contract would have big problems in terms of the parties' respective capacity -- both having come out of a mental hospital, and the victim clearly suicidal. Even if it weren't illegal, the contract would likely be unenforceable on the basis of a lack of capacity and/or coercion. IMHO. All of which is respectfully submitted.
  • He stole 20,000 pounds from her. He only has to pay back 2,000. WTF?!
  • Maybe he has to pay back the 2,000 PLUS fulfill the contract...?
  • Judge: ...and furthermore, you are ordered to kill the plaintiff forthwith. Please, use my gavel.
  • The stories at the bottom are interesting too: The stabbed boy pretended to be a glamorous woman spymaster and promised sex, money and a life as a secret agent if the elder boy carried out the task. Spymaster?
  • I believe they mean he pretended to be a "glamorous woman spymistress".
  • it sorta reminds me of the law in most us states that you have to obtain a permit to sell marijuana.
  • I don't understand why people are shocked that the con artist is punished. You should be shocked that he is allowed to get away with it. The shocking headline should read: UK law gives you the right to keep %90 of money stolen.
  • If anybody's interested, I have never been sued under similar circumstances. Satisfaction guaranteed, no hit too small. Call 555 HITMAN
  • thanks for the offer kitfisto, but i tend to use these guys.
  • Judge: ...and furthermore, you are ordered to kill the plaintiff forthwith. Please, use my gavel. UK judges do not have gavels.
  • Oh, yeah. Kindly amend that to "please use my wig".
  • UK judges don't have gavels? Well, I guess we totally screwed up our peoduction of "Trial by Jury." And we were so proud of our oversized, ornately carved gavel!
  • Satisfaction guaranteed, no hit too small. I have this little mosquito problem...
  • I'm on it. That'll be £10,000 please.
  • Don't forget the oversized, ornately carved mosquito gavel. When you're done, I have this boss with a voice like a mosquito in my ear....
  • UK judges do not have gavels. Geeeeeeeeeetouddahear!!
  • What I want to know is, what do they pound the desk with when things get all out of order? Do they just use their bare hands? Is there a rock or something? Coconut shell?
  • Powdered whigs?
  • I know what they mean by a 'well hung jury'!
  • It's difficult to find anything definitive on gavels in UK courts (proving a negative and all that) but this appears to be by a Senior Lecturer in Law (albeit at a poly) who backs me up: http://www.spr-consilio.com/leglond.pdf