The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers
How often does Harry's withholding of information actually get people hurt...
morriswalters:
American law wasn't written with dark magic in mind. Murder as a crime exists because we define it as such, the killings in question don't fit in any legal system that doesn't include magic.
g33k:
--- Quote from: morriswalters on June 12, 2019, 09:32:27 PM --- American law wasn't written with dark magic in mind. Murder as a crime exists because we define it as such, the killings in question don't fit in any legal system that doesn't include magic.
--- End quote ---
Mortal law claims jurisdiction over everything except "acts of God." No other supernatural agency is exempted.
It's wrong, of course, for purposes of the Dresdenverse. But it still claims jurisdiction, assesses guilt & innocence.
For example, Murphy holding mortal Justice as relevant, and forcing Tiny to back down.
morriswalters:
Reductio ad absurdum. White vampire kills boy/girl in court, and claims death by orgasm. Authorities can't prove different. Vampire shoots bird at judge and goes on vacation somewhere warm. You can claim jurisdiction but you have to prove the crime.
g33k:
--- Quote from: Bad Alias on June 11, 2019, 04:09:46 PM ---a. Murder is the [1.] unlawful killing of ...
--- End quote ---
--- Quote from: Bad Alias on June 11, 2019, 08:49:13 PM ---... This is where I thought the argument would be for Cassius's death, and Slate's if I had remembered that one. Harry is a Warden of the White Council at this point. He has lawful authority to execute this guy, and probably a duty to, according to the White Council. I'm sure the prosecutor's office in Chicago would disagree. Vehemently. This is the reason I said it is arguable that Harry is a murderer...
... If you agree that Harry is subject to the law of Illinois and that the paragraph I quoted happened, then Harry is a murderer...
I think the question that determines if Harry is a murderer is whether or not he is subject to mortal law when acting on behalf of a supernatural nation.
--- End quote ---
I think you have captured the essence of the matter.
Which laws apply?
Given the mortal laws ignorance, I'd argue that they do NOT apply. How can the law apply to matters it does not acknowledge and therefore explicitly does not address?
Does the law mandate how cold Mab's ice may become? Does it hold Kringle responsible for Equal Opportunity Gift-giving? Does it impose any controls upon Denarians? Or upon wizards?
Yes, mortal law does claim jurisdiction; and by strict (and thus ignorant) interpretation of said law... Harry has committed murder.
But I would argue that in this situation, mortal law is so ignorant as to be irrelevant.
g33k:
--- Quote from: morriswalters on June 12, 2019, 11:03:47 PM ---Reductio ad absurdum. White vampire kills boy/girl in court, and claims death by orgasm. Authorities can't prove different. Vampire shoots bird at judge and goes on vacation somewhere warm. You can claim jurisdiction but you have to prove the crime.
--- End quote ---
Oh, I'm sure the murder couldn't be proven by mortals! Even if somebody matched the wounds on Cassius to a casting of Mouse's jaws, Harry's extensive wounding from being tortured would have a jury saying "Good doggy!" and "Not Guilty" (probably in that order).
That doesn't alter the facts of the matter -- unknowable to mortal law -- which do fit the mortal law's definition of murder.
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