Question for Bluemoon's Legal Team

[mrbelfry]

Interesting conversation came up over dinner today. Suppose I buy a small island off the coast of Scotland and declare independence. Then someone visits my island from the UK and I murder them using a hedgehog gutter brush. It's my island and I haven't made a law making murder illegal. Can I still be prosecuted?

 

[Bill Walker]

Interesting conversation came up over dinner today. Suppose I buy a small island off the coast of Scotland and declare independence. Then someone visits my island from the UK and I murder them using a hedgehog gutter brush. It's my island and I haven't made a law making murder illegal. Can I still be prosecuted?

Yes
All islands come under the jurisdiction of one country or another and murder is usually against the law of said country.

 

[mrbelfry]

Yes
All islands come under the jurisdiction of one country or another and murder is usually against the law of said country.

Even if I've legally purchased it and declared myself independent?

 

[Bill Walker]

Even if I've legally purchased it and declared myself independent?

You're not allowed to do that.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Even if I've legally purchased it and declared myself independent?

I assume it’d be the same as trying to declare a house as an independent territory after buying it.

Ie. Nonsense

 

[Uwe Already]

To be fair international law should get you, but as an individual country, how’s your defence system? As I’d suggest the victims family would likely pay a visit if murder is ok on your land (quick! Make a law against you being killed)

 

[Bill Walker]

Maybe if you killed someone on the Moon you might get away with it. :)

 

[mrbelfry]

You're not allowed to do that.

It's my country I can do what I want

 

[mrbelfry]

I assume it’d be the same as trying to declare a house as an independent territory after buying it.

Ie. Nonsense

Not the same actually. I have a whole island

 

[mrbelfry]

To be fair international law should get you, but as an individual country, how’s your defence system? As I’d suggest the victims family would likely pay a visit if murder is ok on your land (quick! Make a law against you being killed)

I'm on an island. I've got like an onsuite moat. I think @Bigga used to run doors so maybe he could help me sort something out

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Not the same actually. I have a whole island

It’s still part of the country’s territory. It’s exactly the same.

Using your logic, a house the same size as your hypothetical island with a moat would be able to declare independence.

 

[mrbelfry]

Maybe if you killed someone on the Moon you might get away with it. :)

Mate I'm a single individual on my own island. I've got to sort some nukes out before I think about joining the space race

 

[Stephen230]

Suppose the nearest you get is that island off India, where they kill unhinged bible bashers who try to visit and convert them.

Although I think even there, they technically come under Indian law and could be prosecuted if the Indian authorities could be arsed with the hassle.

But they just leave them to it.

 

[mrbelfry]

It’s still part of the country’s territory. It’s exactly the same.

Using your logic, a house the same size as your hypothetical island with a moat would be able to declare independence.

What about a 3 bed terrace? Could I do it then? I already have the house so it'd save me buying an island

 

[mrbelfry]

Suppose the nearest you get is that island off India, where they kill unhinged bible bashers who try to visit and convert them.

Although I think even there, they technically come under Indian law and could be prosecuted if the Indian authorities could be arsed with the hassle.

But they just leave them to it.

Sri Lanka? Sounds a bit extreme. I know a couple from there. I'll ask them how they get on

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

What about a 3 bed terrace? Could I do it then? I already have the house so it'd save me buying an island

I’d suggest probably not, but give it a go. It sounds less hassle than having to buy an island and relocate.

 

[mrbelfry]

I’d suggest probably not, but give it a go. It sounds less hassle than having to buy an island and relocate.

Just need to find someone to murder now

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Just need to find someone to murder now

 

[DiscoSteve]

See what the PM of Sealand thinks

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

See what the PM of Sealand thinks

Given there is a Sealand, is there a Landland too?