Biker killed by suspected booby trap

Posted: 21/07/2008 at 11:03

"The booby trap is something that has been alleged and it is something we are looking at. If it is true it is an extremely serious allegation.”

Just amazing.

The Police were at the scene,  surely they could have seen whether or not there was a piece of wire between two trees?

Posted: 21/07/2008 at 17:43

Posted: 21/07/2008 at 17:56

The Police are being deliberately sketchy on the details to avoid too much getting into the press and interfering with their investigation.

RIP off road biker dude

Posted: 21/07/2008 at 18:00

Posted: 21/07/2008 at 18:09

speedfreakz1 wrote (see)

Some nasty bastids out there, that should be classed as murder

Posted: 21/07/2008 at 18:15

Unfucking believable what some people do for 'fun'.

RIP

Posted: 21/07/2008 at 18:19

rydalong wrote (see)

"The booby trap is something that has been alleged and it is something we are looking at. If it is true it is an extremely serious allegation.”

Just amazing.

The Police were at the scene,  surely they could have seen whether or not there was a piece of wire between two trees?

 Does this make it any clearer for you??

Initial inquiries have confirmed that Mr Acaster, who was riding an off-road motorbike, was in collision with a length of metal wire crossing the track and suspended between two trees.

A Lancashire Police spokeswoman today said that investigations were ongoing but "there is no indication at this time that the situation arises out of any deliberate attempt to cause harm".

Posted: 21/07/2008 at 18:21

Posted: 21/07/2008 at 19:17

gedge wrote (see)

A Lancashire Police spokeswoman today said that investigations were ongoing but "there is no indication at this time that the situation arises out of any deliberate attempt to cause harm".

Posted: 21/07/2008 at 20:19

Been a lot of this recently, a lot targeted at mountain bikers (where it can prove equally fatal).  Alas it was only a matter of time until someone got killed... if there is anything good that can come out of this hopefully it will be the police taking reports of booby traps more seriously (at the moment they really can't be arsed doing anything about reports).

There are some serious fucktards about out there who really do need a very, very good shoeing.

Posted: 21/07/2008 at 21:27

I fail to grasp your point here gedge, though as usual you seem to be toeing the seemingly wilfully ignorant police line on this.

What possible reason could one have for running a length of wire across trees other than to do some serious harm to someone, probably as a personal grudge or vigilante-esque approach to deterring off-roaders. Which is not uncommon.

I really do ponder quite where you're coming from when you come up with such ridiculous responses as this. 

gedge wrote (see)

rydalong wrote (see)

"The booby trap is something that has been alleged and it is something we are looking at. If it is true it is an extremely serious allegation.”

Just amazing.

The Police were at the scene,  surely they could have seen whether or not there was a piece of wire between two trees?

 Does this make it any clearer for you??

Initial inquiries have confirmed that Mr Acaster, who was riding an off-road motorbike, was in collision with a length of metal wire crossing the track and suspended between two trees.

A Lancashire Police spokeswoman today said that investigations were ongoing but "there is no indication at this time that the situation arises out of any deliberate attempt to cause harm".

Posted: 21/07/2008 at 22:46

Posted: 21/07/2008 at 22:59

c_mb2006 wrote (see

)

I fail to grasp your point here gedge, though as usual you seem to be toeing the seemingly wilfully ignorant police line on this.

What possible reason could one have for running a length of wire across trees other than to do some serious harm to someone, probably as a personal grudge or vigilante-esque approach to deterring off-roaders. Which is not uncommon.

I really do ponder quite where you're coming from when you come up with such ridiculous responses as this. 

gedge wrote (see)

rydalong wrote (see)

"The booby trap is something that has been alleged and it is something we are looking at. If it is true it is an extremely serious allegation.”

Just amazing.

The Police were at the scene,  surely they could have seen whether or not there was a piece of wire between two trees?

 Does this make it any clearer for you??

Initial inquiries have confirmed that Mr Acaster, who was riding an off-road motorbike, was in collision with a length of metal wire crossing the track and suspended between two trees.

A Lancashire Police spokeswoman today said that investigations were ongoing but "there is no indication at this time that the situation arises out of any deliberate attempt to cause harm".

Posted: 21/07/2008 at 23:42

Posted: 22/07/2008 at 08:00

So a 17 year old youth who's Dad was in the area, but not with him - presumably he was with the van that took the bike up there - was riding off road on private farmland adjoining the Wildfowl and Wetlands centre without a helmet. The booby trap wire is not what killed him, he was flung from his bike and suffered severe head injuries. I have to agree with Burty on this one.

burty wrote (see)

I think the point is that whoever did it may not have expected the degree of harm that could be done. 

There's no suggestion that the wire was strung at head height.

It's fairly easy to understand why people could get annoyed at someone trespassing and disturbing the peace next to a Wildfowl centre.

I'm not defending the booby trap, whoever did it should get life but the youth and his father don't appear to have acted in the most considerate and responsible manner either.

If the youth had been riding in a designated or public area then this wouldn't have happened. If he'd been wearing a helmet the result may have been different.

Posted: 22/07/2008 at 08:23

burty wrote (see)

c_mb2006 wrote (see

)

I fail to grasp your point here gedge, though as usual you seem to be toeing the seemingly wilfully ignorant police line on this.

What possible reason could one have for running a length of wire across trees other than to do some serious harm to someone, probably as a personal grudge or vigilante-esque approach to deterring off-roaders. Which is not uncommon.

I really do ponder quite where you're coming from when you come up with such ridiculous responses as this. 

gedge wrote (see)

rydalong wrote (see)

"The booby trap is something that has been alleged and it is something we are looking at. If it is true it is an extremely serious allegation.”

Just amazing.

The Police were at the scene,  surely they could have seen whether or not there was a piece of wire between two trees?

 Does this make it any clearer for you??

Initial inquiries have confirmed that Mr Acaster, who was riding an off-road motorbike, was in collision with a length of metal wire crossing the track and suspended between two trees.

A Lancashire Police spokeswoman today said that investigations were ongoing but "there is no indication at this time that the situation arises out of any deliberate attempt to cause harm".

I think the point is that whoever did it may not have expected the degree of harm that could be done. 

Posted: 22/07/2008 at 08:24

Posted: 22/07/2008 at 08:40

burty wrote (see)

Criminally stupid perhaps.  I do think that many people do these things without actually giving any thought to the ultimate consequences.  I suspect no-one wants to kill someone, but they don't realise the danger that their actions cause.

i see your point, and i agree they probably didn't want to kill anybody, and they probably didn't consider how serious the results could be when they did this. i can't see that this could be any defence though (i'm not saying you're defending).

i suspect however that they did know that anyone hitting this would be harmed/injured. and i do suspect that that was the intention. causing some to crash their bike for a laugh. 

Posted: 22/07/2008 at 09:11

Seem to remember Jeremy Clarkson having this idea a while back and thinking it was hilarious....

Poor little sod

Posted: 23/07/2008 at 14:18

Being ignorant of the possible consequences is not generally an excuse acceptable in law, it just shows you're stupid.

Stringing a wire across at whatever height means you intend to cause harm and there should be no argument about that. If someone dies then it's probably manslaughter. Murder might be applicable if the wire was at head height and there were other circumstances linking the individuals involved.

Whether the rider was supposed to be on that path or not is no excuse for this.

I suspect the police are being cagey at this point as a) they are a bit embarrased they didn't do sufficient deterrent work in the first place and b) they need to know what charges to bring when/if they find those responsible.

My condolences to the family of the rider.

Posted: 23/07/2008 at 16:55

Posted: 23/07/2008 at 23:23

Hodge wrote (see)

Being ignorant of the possible consequences is not generally an excuse acceptable in law, it just shows you're stupid.

Stringing a wire across at whatever height means you intend to cause harm and there should be no argument about that. If someone dies then it's probably manslaughter. Murder might be applicable if the wire was at head height and there were other circumstances linking the individuals involved.

Whether the rider was supposed to be on that path or not is no excuse for this.

I suspect the police are being cagey at this point as a) they are a bit embarrased they didn't do sufficient deterrent work in the first place and b) they need to know what charges to bring when/if they find those responsible.

My condolences to the family of the rider.

I have read some rubbish on this forum but the highlighted bit takes the biscuit...Just WTF kind of deterrent work do you think they are embarrassed about not providing?? do you think they should periodically inspect all private land for anything that might endanger an illegal off roader??

Some people really need to get a grip 

Posted: 23/07/2008 at 23:32

gedge wrote (see)

Hodge wrote (see)

Being ignorant of the possible consequences is not generally an excuse acceptable in law, it just shows you're stupid.

Stringing a wire across at whatever height means you intend to cause harm and there should be no argument about that. If someone dies then it's probably manslaughter. Murder might be applicable if the wire was at head height and there were other circumstances linking the individuals involved.

Whether the rider was supposed to be on that path or not is no excuse for this.

I suspect the police are being cagey at this point as a) they are a bit embarrased they didn't do sufficient deterrent work in the first place and b) they need to know what charges to bring when/if they find those responsible.

My condolences to the family of the rider.

I have read some rubbish on this forum but the highlighted bit takes the biscuit...Just WTF kind of deterrent work do you think they are embarrassed about not providing?? do you think they should periodically inspect all private land for anything that might endanger an illegal off roader??

Some people really need to get a grip 

I think that's a bit strong but if that's the way you feel then that's your opinion.

From my reading of this it's my opinion that there appears to have been many cases of such booby trap activity already (granted not necessarily at the same place) and no apparent police action. No press announcements I've seen, no arrests etc. It's almost as if it's the old case of it not a priority until someone get's seriously hurt/dies. Not enough local 'bobbies' on the beat if you ask me.

Posted: 25/07/2008 at 15:41

oops - posted twice

Posted: 25/07/2008 at 15:54

Hodge wrote (see)

gedge wrote (see)

Hodge wrote (see)

Being ignorant of the possible consequences is not generally an excuse acceptable in law, it just shows you're stupid.

Stringing a wire across at whatever height means you intend to cause harm and there should be no argument about that. If someone dies then it's probably manslaughter. Murder might be applicable if the wire was at head height and there were other circumstances linking the individuals involved.

Whether the rider was supposed to be on that path or not is no excuse for this.

I suspect the police are being cagey at this point as a) they are a bit embarrased they didn't do sufficient deterrent work in the first place and b) they need to know what charges to bring when/if they find those responsible.

My condolences to the family of the rider.

I have read some rubbish on this forum but the highlighted bit takes the biscuit...Just WTF kind of deterrent work do you think they are embarrassed about not providing?? do you think they should periodically inspect all private land for anything that might endanger an illegal off roader??

Some people really need to get a grip 

I think that's a bit strong but if that's the way you feel then that's your opinion.

From my reading of this it's my opinion that there appears to have been many cases of such booby trap activity already (granted not necessarily at the same place) and no apparent police action. No press announcements I've seen, no arrests etc. It's almost as if it's the old case of it not a priority until someone get's seriously hurt/dies. Not enough local 'bobbies' on the beat if you ask me.

How do you think these stories make the press? its not magic its police nedia services...I just cant see how or what you think the police have need to be embarrassed about ..Even if there were millions of bobbies on the beat, it would still be a sad day when they were entitled and expected to patrol private property to ensure Health and safety..

As it happens I doubt very much that a couple of cases of wire strung across a track throughout the whole of the country( causing only one death in 12 months..and yes one death is too many..)  will ever be sufficient for it to be a priority when in one city alone 6 people were knifed to death on one weekend..

I also think in the absence of definitive information to show its a booby trap, that you might try and read the press release where it says there is no evidence that it was placed deliberately to cause injury.. as somehow I doubt they would have said such a thing unless they had some form of explanation...

Posted: 25/07/2008 at 17:57