Ruth Wagner, 55, may have committed the ultimate Christmas crime — combining holiday themes with criminal intent. Wagner is accused of stealing various items from a Christmas Craft Fair and, when discovered, using a seashell ornament to stab another woman. The case raises an interesting question: is a seashell Christmas ornament a dangerous weapon?
Now, many of us have been to craft shows and experienced violent impulses when surrounded by the seashell and ceramic art. However, Wagner went Grinch after someone spotted her taking the items and tried to block her from fleeing from the scene. She allegedly used “a seashell ornament with a long tail” as a weapon after a vendor screamed that she had stolen various items. When a woman at the door tried to stop her, Wagner stabbed her in the forearm with the ornament — leaving a piece of te shell lodged in her arm. [This is why ancient Ninja assassins often preferred seashell ornaments in their work].
Wagner is now charged with robbery in the first degree, assault in the second degree, reckless endangerment in the first degree, larceny in the sixth degree and breach of peace in the second degree. I am not sure what it takes for first degree assault in Connecticut. I looked up the statute that it may be due to the fact that she did not (1) use a gun or firearm, (2) cause serious injury by means of a deadly weapon or a dangerous instrument (or intending to seriously or permanently disfigure a person, or to destroy, amputate, or disfigure a persons body), (3) causes physical injury to another person, or (4) intending to cause serious physical injury with 2 or more other people participating. There is a provision for causing serious injury by means of a deadly weapon or a dangerous instrument. However, assuming this is a serious injury, is a seashell ornament a dangerous instrument? I have seen some tree angels that could take down a rhino, but it is a matter of definition.
What do you think?
Source: NBC
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An ornament that shoots red and green pepper spray would be nice …
Next thing I know, I’ll be discussing legal issues on “The Smoking Gun” website…
Just waiting for the blog about the guy suing the Topeka, KS couple he held hostage, because he feels the reneged on a deal to protect him from police…
Turley…? Turley…? Turley…?
“The case raises an interesting question: is a seashell Christmas ornament a dangerous weapon?” The answer is no. A seashell is not a christmas ornament.
“Now, many of us have been to craft shows and experienced violent impulses when surrounded by the seashell and ceramic art”
LOL!
For myself, these impulses involve tearing my own eyes out, the better to never be able to see such travesty, and perhaps to give a stern lecture.
There is a funny scene in the wonderful series “Doc Martin” where the irascible doctor is looking at a craft table in the public square, and telling the table-keeper how his art is so much better than the trash at a nearby table. He goes into a long pejorative description of just how bad the wooden toys are at the other table, only to discover that the artisan who made the terrible stuff is actually the person he is speaking to. Priceless.
I think someone doesn’t have a very good grasp on the meaning of “Christmas spirit.”
All in the intent…She sounds like a Bitch to me though….But then again…that is all in the intent…I think Mike S…said it well…It went something like this…It strike me with irony that people will do this stuff all in the name of the season…”The Gift of the Magi” comes to mind…That was a Forced reading in Texas Schools at the time…..
I believe any sharp object could be considered a dangerous weapon. Just ask the lady with the stab wound.
Apparently the pepper spray lady in California is free to go. Officials say the stores video gives her a self defense argument. she was in fear of her safety, being crushed by the crowd.
Yeah, now about all those new laws giving people the power to shoot to kill if they are in fear . . .