Man shoots another mistaking him for burglar

Rome, April 27 (IANS/AKI) A 27-year-old man died in Italy's Sicily region after a pensioner opened fire at him, allegedly mistaking him for a burglar.

The critically injured man was rushed to hospital after the shooting, which took place near the eastern Sicilian village of Mascali.

Police detained a 69-year-old pensioner from Mascali on suspicion of murder over the shooting.

The pensioner said he fired several shots after he heard a noise outside his home in the middle of the night and suspected a burglar was about to break in.

The man had a licence for the gun used in the attack.

 

In August 1999, an English farmer from Norfolk, Tony Martin, who shot a teenage burglar dead at his farmhouse, was convicted of murder, later reduced to manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility, and served three years in prison for the killing.

--IANS/AKI

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