Maine news, sports, weather from Waterville Morning Sentinel
Friday, September 10, 2010
Lobsterman shooting trial continues
The Associated Press
ROCKLAND — The trial continues for a Maine lobsterman charged with shooting a fellow fisherman in the neck in a dispute over fishing territory.
Sixty-eight-year-old Vance Bunker has pleaded not guilty to two counts of elevated aggravated assault, criminal threatening and reckless conduct in last July's shooting of Christopher Young.
The Bangor Daily News reports that Young's half brother, Weston Ames, testified on Monday that Bunker fired the gun first at him but missed and then shot Young.
The shooting took place on a wharf on Matinicus, which is 20 miles offshore and is the most remote of Maine's 15 year-round island communities.
Bunker's daughter, Janan Miller, is being tried on a reckless conduct charge for her role in the incident.
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16 COMMENTS
trisailer said...
How is it that this fool can plead not guilty when the whole thing was wittnessed by a bunch of people. We should make a new law that if you waste the courts time you should get double the years in jail. In Thailand people caught breaking the law immediatly confess because the penelty for lying is ten times worse than for the crime. We need something like this.
March 10, 2010 at 8:45 AM Report abuse
Izzy said...
The victim(s) are former family. My ex's nephews. Small world. Bunker made big idiot mistake and he should pay for it. Exiled would be perfect.
March 10, 2010 at 8:48 AM Report abuse
Les said...
Izzy, Living on Matinicus is exile. Is it still part of the U.S.? LOL
March 10, 2010 at 8:56 AM Report abuse
Izzy said...
Ex is from Vinalhaven. Nuff said. Spent a weekend fishing over there. Island people think Mainelanders are from away for God's sake!
March 10, 2010 at 9:14 AM Report abuse
Izzy said...
Ex is from Vinalhaven. Nuff said. Spent a weekend fishing over there. Island people think Mainelanders are from away for God's sake!
March 10, 2010 at 9:14 AM Report abuse
Nukebusters said...
Lets' see, tough guys jump on a 68 year-old guy's boat, assault him, threaten to kill him, grab his daughter who then carries a gun in self-defense, and the old guy is wrong for bringing his gun along? He ain't all wrong.
March 10, 2010 at 9:15 AM Report abuse
windjammer said...
Hey-Nukebusters-two wrongs never make a right-fists are one thing-guns are quite another. Laws are made to deter people from settleing their differences with pistol's. Using a gun to deter is one thing-shooting an unarmd individual is quite another. In either situation guns are bad business these "lobster Wars."
March 10, 2010 at 9:34 AM Report abuse
HARRY said...
Looks like the myth of the hard working Maine Lobster men are over. The reality is that they are a bunch of Criminals and Thugs.
March 10, 2010 at 9:35 AM Report abuse
null said...
Thank you Nukebusters. Your not alone. After all, the court has only heard one side of the story..
March 10, 2010 at 9:40 AM Report abuse
Mohoboibi said...
...I just love that painting at Bowdoin College Art Museum called Night Hauling by Andrew Wyeth..sneakinf around in the dark hauling other bugcacther's gear....crouched low...looking over his shoulder like a thief....
March 10, 2010 at 10:41 AM Report abuse
Nukebusters said...
windjammer: No question the situation escalated, but lets not overlook the fact that a 68 year old man (with a great reputaion for being a nice guy) is no match for a much younger fisherman. I think you could argue that the fists of an enraged, full-time, 40 year old lobsterman are deadly weapons. I note the death threat, and the fact that the guy assaulted Bunker on BUNKER's boat. Just like forceful entry of my home, anybody jumps on my boat and comes after me, it would likely be the last boat he jumps on.
March 10, 2010 at 11:59 AM Report abuse
Izzy said...
It wasn't self defense, Bunker was on the dock hiding when Chris was ambushed. Got this straight from family.
March 10, 2010 at 11:59 AM Report abuse
windjammer said...
Harry-You know nothing about hauling trap-I have had that experience. It is not the easiest way to make a living nor the safest. They are NOT a bunch of criminals and thugs-you haven't a clue-so don't go running your mouth off about something you know nothing about-makes you look like an idiot.
March 10, 2010 at 4:34 PM Report abuse
TheCaptain said...
Harry, Windjammer's got a point. Bunker's the guy who went out on a nasty winter night (about Feb, 1992)and pulled a couple guys out of the water off Matinicus when the tugboat Harkness sank....Not exactly a criminal in my book.
March 10, 2010 at 5:36 PM Report abuse
TheCaptain said...
Izzy- I got this from family- some clown drove a fisherman off Matinicus about 18 years ago by threatening his family. Hint: It wasn't Bunker.
March 10, 2010 at 5:39 PM Report abuse
SPMBC said...
The entire incident is no different than a bunch of drug dealers in the "hood" protecting their turf. No capital punishment in Maine, yet these folks are dishing it out nevertheless as if the laws don't apply to them.
March 10, 2010 at 7:25 PM Report abuse