First Degree Murder???

This morning, we saw a story on WRAL about a man (Moretti) who ran over (3 times) another man (McLeod) who tried to rob and stab his wife. Previously, Moretti was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. Because McLeod died, Moretti is now charged with FIRST degree murder. Apparently, when the woman was attacked outside a pizza place in Fayetteville, she yelled for her husband who then shot 2 or 3 shots (with the gun he was carrying in his pocket???) in the air and McLeod fled on foot. Incidentally, McLeod lived right down the road from this pizza place, I suppose he was running home for safety? McLeod died yesterday because of injuries sustained during the incident. Nathaniel and I disagree about the new charges. I'm curious as to what thoughts you all have about it... but in the mean time, let me tell you what I think. (And yes, I'm trying to use capital letters today.) Ok, here goes it with my opinions. First, the dad was quoted as saying... "I had a chance to talk with him, I was able to tell him (Monday) morning that I loved him and (that) this was not his fault." It is sad that his son died. I feel bad for him and his family. BUT... wasn't his son trying to rob and possibly stab a woman? Does he really NOT think it is his fault? Really. If his son had not been performing a criminal act, he wouldn't be dead right now. Second, the dad also said "I wouldn't even run over a dog that way." Whatever. He shouldn't kid himself that there aren't things/people that he would protect with everything he has (strength). If the pit bull up the street were to get loose and attack Kendal (whether it was in MY yard or on the road in front of their house, if we were walking by), I would definitely respond in a very violent and tragic way. I would most certainly beat the dog to death with my own hand. I wouldn't need a car. Same goes for a cat, or a wild animal, or a person. When Moretti left that day to go get pizza, he did not plan to kill someone on his way home. Moretti obviously felt a great sense of protection and fear when his wife was attacked. He was startled by the scream of his wife, "fight or flight" kicked in... and he responded in a way that, although a bit extreme, IMO wasn't that crazy considering the circumstances! I don't think it was necessary to run over the guy 3 times. Even once was probably too many times. BUT, if Moretti had shot the robber from the start, would he be charged with murder or some sort of self defense type charge? If he had shot him 3 times would it still be murder? I agree with McLeod's dad when he says that you shouldn't take the law into your own hands, but when Moretti fired his warning shots, maybe McLeod shouldn't have run. Why did he run? because he was caught. He didn't want to get caught... so instead of having a criminal FREE on the skreets, Moretti chased after him. I do think Moretti did the wrong thing, he responded in a bad, over-the-top way. But first degree murder? No, that is too much. He does not need to go to prison and sit in a cell with a man who raped and murdered a 2 year old baby girl. Or a robber that stabbed an old lady 13 times. Moretti is not THAT kind of criminal (based on this incident). What is manslaughter? Wouldn't that be more appropriate? Kinda like what a drunk driver gets when he runs over and kills someone? When McLeod chose to do the crime, he should have realized that , as Newton proclaimed, an action has an equal and opposite reaction!!! Sometimes the robber gets outrobbed! In this case, he was robbed his life. A life that in other circumstances would probably have landed him 15 years in prison, to be followed by parole in 1 year, and another robbery (and maybe even a stabbing) within 5 months. I guess I just don't have any sympathy for criminals.