So... someone confesses murder to you

[Martinus]

Who is he, who did he kill and why.
No one answer.
If some git admits it to me for brutally killing some complete stranger then I'm going to the police.
If its my friend and its because he found the guy robbing his house or somesuch then...let it go and hope for the best.

You have friends "you don't know very well"? Ok, I guess I thought this will be read by people who are not sociopaths.

[Syt]

Who is he, who did he kill and why.
No one answer.
If some git admits it to me for brutally killing some complete stranger then I'm going to the police.
If its my friend and its because he found the guy robbing his house or somesuch then...let it go and hope for the best.

You have friends "you don't know very well"? Ok, I guess I thought this will be read by people who are not sociopaths.

And yet you post it on Languish. 

[Josquius]

You have friends "you don't know very well"? Ok, I guess I thought this will be read by people who are not sociopaths.

I'm a student, some people remain friends for years but lots of people only come here for 6 months then vanish. Though I would call them friends I wouldn't claim to know them too well.

[Ed Anger]

30 year old murder? Don't really give a fuck.

[The Brain]

In the case of the WW2 sailor there's a few things to consider when you decide what to do upon hearing his story (not in order):

1. Is it even true? People tell less than truthful tales all the time, for many different reasons.
2. Is the guy a friend? Unlike what some posters will tell you two men can be friends. Do I want to potentially destroy his life over some ancient shit?
3. Will going to the police realistically have a chance to lead to conviction? Will the guy even confess his deed to the police? This is real life, not Cold Case.
4. Will the dead guy's family be helped by the death resurfacing? Maybe a criminal suddenly painting their WW2 hero as a faggot isn't really helpful.
5. Do I want to be known as the guy who runs to the police over this kind of thing? Regardless of what I think it will make me look assish.
6. Should he have killed the guy on a dreadnought instead?
etc

[CountDeMoney]

I'm not a priest and I'm not a lawyer, and I like to testify in court.

[Barrister]

I once did have someone admit to a 30 + year old sexual crime in my capacity as a lawyer...

[Ideologue]

Probably not, although I would happily take his money to represent him if someone else did.

[The Brain]

I once did have someone admit to a 30 + year old sexual crime in my capacity as a lawyer...

You'd report the allegedly gay dead sailor but not the murderer?

[DGuller]

I once did have someone admit to a 30 + year old sexual crime in my capacity as a lawyer...

What happens if by chance some time later you run into the guy as a prosecutor?  Or a judge, for that matter?  Do you recuse yourself?

[CountDeMoney]

I once did have someone admit to a 30 + year old sexual crime in my capacity as a lawyer...

But she was hot, so you let it go.

[Martinus]

I once did have someone admit to a 30 + year old sexual crime in my capacity as a lawyer...

What happens if by chance some time later you run into the guy as a prosecutor?  Or a judge, for that matter?  Do you recuse yourself?

Uhum.

[Barrister]

I once did have someone admit to a 30 + year old sexual crime in my capacity as a lawyer...

What happens if by chance some time later you run into the guy as a prosecutor?  Or a judge, for that matter?  Do you recuse yourself?

You got it.

[HVC]

I once did have someone admit to a 30 + year old sexual crime in my capacity as a lawyer...

What happens if by chance some time later you run into the guy as a prosecutor?  Or a judge, for that matter?  Do you recuse yourself?

You got it.

When you recuse yourself do you have to explain why in detail?

[Martinus]

I once did have someone admit to a 30 + year old sexual crime in my capacity as a lawyer...

What happens if by chance some time later you run into the guy as a prosecutor?  Or a judge, for that matter?  Do you recuse yourself?

You got it.

When you recuse yourself do you have to explain why in detail?

Of course not. The fact that you know the person is normally enough. Not to mention a situation when you have been the person's lawyer in the past - that's pretty much an automatic kick.