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The law can be weird sometimes.

In the case of most justice systems, there are laws that govern how laws must be upheld so that the law can be implemented fairly.

The law within the law, within the law.

If it sounds like a Russian nesting doll, wait until you start unpacking a recent case in Australia wherein two brothers were tried for stealing meth and a double-barrelled shotgun from their dealer – who then pressed charges.

On the night of October 2, at around 10PM, reports VICE, Laurence Ford and Angus James Ford, having run out of both money and “ice”, arranged a meeting with their dealer at his house.

Once invited inside they sat down, shared some drugs, and while the dealer was weighing out AU$150 worth of meth to sell them, Angus put him in a chokehold.

Laurence grabbed a gun, “not because he wanted to use it, but because he did not want the complainant to use it”, before pointing the gun at the dealer and saying “give me everything you have”.

The dealer “protested that they were mates, to no avail”, and while still in a chokehold grabbed both barrels of the gun, leading to a struggle that caused one of the barrels to discharge, damaging the floor and a cupboard.

It was only when Jake stabbed the dealer in the arm that he let go of the gun, at which point Angus choked him until he passed out. The brothers then fled the scene with the shotgun, about 4.7 grams of ice and the man’s wallet, which contained $1,900 cash.

There’s no honour among criminals these days. It’s disgraceful.

When the dealer woke up he called the police and reported the robbery.

Yes, a man with a house full of meth called the police because someone stole his meth.

The police arrested the Ford brothers two days later.

“The complainant knew the two brothers. It was inevitable that he would either report them to the police, or retaliate in some way, or both,” said Chief Justice Alan Blow in his sentencing last week, describing the event as “certainly not a well-planned robbery”.

Was it really inevitable?

It gets weirder.

Chief Justice Blow [the judge that handed down the sentencing] further noted that the incident had a “substantial psychological and financial impact” on the dealer, who had been working full-time as a concreter but was forced to leave his job because of his state of mind.

“He had been the primary carer of one of his children, but has said that he lost custody of her as a result of this incident,” said Chief Justice Blow. “He has moved house and become reclusive. He has problems with sleeplessness, social withdrawal and depression.”

Chief Justice Blow involved in a drug sentencing. So many layers here.

The Ford brothers have been ordered to pay back the money that they stole.

Jake was sentenced to two years and six months in jail, while Angus was sentenced to 14 months.

The court records do not specify whether or not the dealer is facing any charges.

[source:vice]