ROCKLAND
Jury finds island lobsterman not guilty in shooting
ROCKLAND (AP) -- A Maine lobsterman and his daughter were acquitted Friday of all counts stemming from the shooting of a lobsterman in a dispute over fishing territory off the coast of Maine.
Vance Bunker, 68, was charged with elevated aggravated assault for shooting 44-year-old Christopher Young in the neck on a wharf on remote Matinicus Island in July. Young survived the shooting. Bunker's daughter, Janan Miller, was charged with reckless conduct for her role in the shooting.
Jurors deliberated for 11/2 days before acquitting both in a trial that gave outsiders a rare view into the unofficial rules followed by Maine's lobster fishermen.
Bunker and his son-in-law Alan Miller were feuding with half brothers Christopher Young and Weston Ames, with both groups accusing each other of cutting trap lines.
The dispute erupted into a confrontation in which Young boarded Bunker's boat, only to retreat after being shot with pepper spray. The argument later moved to the island's wharf. This time, Bunker brought a handgun, and Janan Miller showed up on the wharf with a 12-gauge shotgun.
Bunker told jurors he fired to protect his daughter after Ames grabbed for the shotgun. "I had no choice," Bunker told jurors. "I was protecting my daughter."
Defense lawyer Philip Cohen told jurors to "ask yourself, 'What type of father would pull the trigger?"' He added, "The real question is, What father wouldn't?"
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5 COMMENTS
bastaa said...
All is well in Bubba Maine. Wonder if the good tourists would still come if they ever realized the redneck court system that they subject themselves too could actually judge them someday. Boycott!
March 13, 2010 at 8:07 AM Report abuse
ThoughtCrime said...
Boycott GM corn and corn products
March 13, 2010 at 10:12 AM Report abuse
ProConserv said...
It would seem that people have a right to defend themselves, with deadly force if necessary! Remeber that maine attorney's general! Stop prosecuting people who defend themselves and their loved ones! Its their right to do so! Remember that!
March 13, 2010 at 10:38 AM Report abuse
AKMaineiac said...
This clown actually boarded another man's boat without his permission? And he had to be repelled with pepper spray? Then, later, he and a buddy accost the man and his daughter on the dock? While the man and his daughter are armed? Then, one of them grabs at the woman's shotgun, and is shot? And the AG's office prosecutes the man who shot him? Just what does the AG think would have happened had the man been able to get that shotgun away? Everybody would have shook hands and gone home? Take home lesson? Don't trespass on another man's boat, and then accost the man and his daughter when you see them later, especially if they're armed. A person with a reasonably developed sense of self-preservation would leave them be. Which is what they wanted in the first place from all appearances.
March 13, 2010 at 12:41 PM Report abuse
WhittledDown said...
Boarding another persons boat is the same as entering anothers home. To do so without permission and with hostile intent is not wise.
March 14, 2010 at 7:29 PM Report abuse