Sean’s house has been burglarized several times. Before visiting his parents for a couple of days and in order to prevent further burglaries, Sean borrowed a guard dog from a friend. The dog is a Doberman trained to kill any intruder with just one bite. On the second night, a thief forced the door to Sean’s house.
The dog, awakened by the noises, quietly waited for the door to open. Once the thief set foot inside the house, the dog jumped at his throat killing him on the spot. Is this case similar to Ceballos or is it different? Explain. What if the intruder was Sean’s girlfriend who wanted to surprise him for his birthday? Would your answer change?
This discussion relates to defense of habitation.
