Would you rat your friend out, if they murdered someone?
 

If one of your best friends told you that they murdered an innocent person, what would you do? Would you rat them out to the cops or would you just never mention a word of it to anyone again?

I'd rat them out without even thinking twice about it. As soon as a friend of mine murders an innocent person, they are no longer one of my friends.

What would you do? I've asked a lot of people and surprisingly, the majority said that they'd just keep their mouth shut.

Depends who they killed, and for what purpose. I'd most definetly rat them out if my friend doesn't admit to the murder. Again, it depends.

And wait, just because he killed an innocent person, you won't consider him/her a friend? What if it was an accident? Or..for some other reason.

If it's an accident I don't consider it murder.

By murder I mean cold-blooded murder.

I think the law agrees!

Seriously, is there anyone who wouldn't?

This is a toughie. I don't know. I think I might be a bit scared to spend anymore time with them if they did that. I'd constantly be thinking, "OMG, she's going to the bathroom after I mad her mad!! Is she going to come back with a knife!!!"

It might be an overexaggeration but I'd be scared to be around them nonetheless.

Double Post:
Your Friendly Neighborhood Criminal.

So you'd turn them in out of fear, not because it's the right thing to do? I mean, they took another person's life. Isn't that reason enough?

A more interesting question is, would you turn in your husband/wife/serious significant other?

Benefit of the doubt, perhaps? I don't care what the circumstances are, I just want a reason. Then, it'll be possible to decide.

Here's another question: Pre-meditated or not? I think that changes the outlook on the situation. It pretty much shows if they are psychotic or not, in my book. It's possible for someone to become so angry that they don't realize all of their actions and kill someone. I would think that a little sympathy is given there. But the whole scenario changes when someone is actually planning to kill someone else for whatever reason.

So, if you ask me, if my best friend had planned to kill someone in cold-blood I would turn them in. You can't let a person that horrible walk free and have that rest on your conscience. However, if it wasn't premeditated, I might be willing to keep my mouth shut because they're most likely not totally deserving of the punishment of the law. I might persuade them to turn themself in, though.

If it was murder, as in he killed an innocent person, the cops would be at his door by the morning.

I'd feel obligated to, even if it were friends or family. I can't stand it when certain communities or families will "close ranks" and be deliberately obstructive to justice, just because they're related. In my opinion right and wrong supercedes any ties of family or friendship, as heart-wrenching as that may be.

It seems from previous posts, it depends. And I agree. If murder was intentional, I'd probably rat them out. But if it were intentional and he/she has developed some insane mental problems. I'd rat'em out and find some doctorial help.

If unintentional, I'd help clear his/her good name.

Really depends on the circumstances. Although I must say, if it really was a good friend, I'd probably just keep my mouth shut about it in general. If they killed a family member of mine or friend of mine, I'd rat them out. Regardless of who they killed, unless the victim REALLY had it coming, I'd probably avoid them in general from that time on. If I felt my life was in danger, I'd definitely do something about it.

I probably wouldn't turn my friend in, but if the police came knocking on my door asking me to confirm this I definitely would. Basically, if he got caught for doing this and was denying it, I would rat him out, but I wouldn't take the initiative and go to the police before he was even caught.

Alice, the reason they did it would affect me.

If they killed some random guy walking down the street who was minding their own business. Or someone who didn't give them a dollar when they asked, that's when I'd turn them in without hesitation.

If they killed some Guy who stabbed their parents and actually had some motive other than "kill everything that moves!!!".

Of course, I always just hoped the Police Force would catch them so I wouldn't have to say anything.

I think for the people that said you'd keep your mouth shut, that would all change if you happened to see the family of the victim on TV. The family crying, pleading for anyone that knows anything to come forward.

Then you'd put yourself in their position and probably turn them in.

It's the friend's responsiblity to turn him/herself in. I mean, I can't really to the job for them, unless..well, there's someone I know who's in danger. But still, if the person doesn't, I'll have no other choice to but rat the killer out.

If it was an accident, I'd probably tell them they have 30 minutes to disappear, and then I'm calling the cops.

If one of my friends murders someone... chances are I've probaby had a part (either been consulted, or participated) in it as well... So no, I wouldn't rat him/her out.

For my friends? Yea, I would rat them out in a fucking heartbeat.

For my FAMILY? That could be a different issue. I would have to think carefully about it.

I guess that says a lot about my friendships, huh?

As said before, depends on situation and why did they did. Also how close a friend and who that person is.

The sad thing is that I don't even watch the news so that part of guilt wouldn't affect me. Of course, I don't really know how I'd react unless it actually happened in my life.