Page last updated at 19:36 GMT, Tuesday, 12 January 2010

Mother's campaign on burglar murder charge

Tyler Juett
Tyler Juett, 17, died in hospital from stab wounds

The mother of a man accused of murdering a burglar in Nottingham has started a campaign calling for the charge to be dropped.

Omari Roberts, 23, of Heathfield Road, Old Basford, is awaiting trial for the stabbing of burglar Tyler Juett, 17.

His mother Jacqueline McKenzie-Johnson, 47, said the charge was "ludicrous" and claimed her son was defending himself.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Mr Roberts' alleged actions were "not reasonable".

'Gratuitous force'

Mrs McKenzie-Johnson, a manager at Nottingham City Council, said: "The charge my son faces is outrageous.

"My understanding of reasonable force, of what the law says, doesn't tally with what the CPS says and so I'm confused."

Jacqueline McKenzie-Johnson
Mrs McKenzie-Johnson says her son acted in self-defence

She added: "We want the law to be clarified and I want to try and get the charges dropped.

"The CPS reason for bringing the charge was that gratuitous force was used.

"But when I looked in the dictionary it said gratuitous was unnecessary."

Mrs McKenzie-Johnson has begun the Safe as Houses campaign, which features an online petition.

Mr Roberts, an apprentice builder, is on conditional bail and due to face trial in April charged with murdering the 17-year-old and wounding a 14-year-old accomplice.

The 14-year-old, who cannot be identified, pleaded guilty to burglary at Nottingham Youth Court on 14 May and was ordered to be detained for two years.



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SEE ALSO
Trial for burglar murder accused
10 Nov 09 |  Nottinghamshire
Man charged over 'burglar murder'
27 Oct 09 |  Nottinghamshire

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