Edit: Interesting, I dug up some zoning documents from the restaurant, and the Bay Conservation and Development Commission specifically called out the actions they are doing now (blocking the trail, blocking public access decks) as violations on page 4.

[1] http://www2.oaklandnet.com/oakca1/groups/ceda/documents/agen...

"He shot and killed his neighbor, Timothy Newman, a man who had repeatedly challenged Campbell over his access-blocking proclivities. Campbell first claimed it was self-defense because Newman threatened him, but last year he finally pleaded guilty to negligent homicide. He’s now on probation, under a 20 years suspended prison sentence."

It's very close to "completely getting away with it" for a rich person.

It's premeditated homicide, i.e. first degree murder.

The short version is Timothy Newman, the man who ended up dead, had armed himself with a gun, gone to Campbell's property with the intent of "adversely possessing" it, and draw his own gun on Campbell before Campbell fired at him.

Now this probably would not have made it to a trial, had not Campbell said to multiple people in the weeks before that he was going to “put Newman down” the next time they met.

There was a murder trial. The jury at this trial were instructed to decided between preplanned murder or innocent, did not believe either was correct, and returned no decision, resulting in a mistrial.

In lieu of a second trial, the 20-year suspended sentence was worked out between the prosecutors and the defendant's lawyers. As part of that Campbell paid Newman's wife one million dollars, and Campbell was never to go on the disputed property again (effectively giving up control of it).

The wild west is a crazy place, and justice is not always obvious.

It sounds like they had enough to charge him with more (how much more - who knows?).

[1] https://fr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentier_littoral

It's completely understandable, and this is mostly just Government trolling to land owners and causing inconvenient situations to the public wanting to access public grounds.

I mean your example in the UK, I can't believe every landowner that has a public right of way on their property is thrilled about it, especially in cases when they went to do something with their property and the government told them no because of the right of way. What good is owning that property one might wonder? If it's that important to everyone why not have the government purchase it and maintain it?

Every landowner might have a different opinion of what the best solution is. Good luck writing a law that appeases them all.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15552574

http://www.hmbreview.com/news/martin-s-beach-open-again/arti...

I'm surprised people never protested at his office on Sand Hill Road.

The casualness with which such a rich asshole deprives thousands of people of their rights without any fear for consequences is absolutely disgusting.

>> "He shot and killed his neighbor, Timothy Newman, a man who had repeatedly challenged Campbell over his access-blocking proclivities. Campbell first claimed it was self-defense because Newman threatened him, but last year he finally pleaded guilty to negligent homicide. He’s now on probation, under a 20 years suspended prison sentence."

Just WTF? This is absolutely insane. Other people end up in the chamber for such things (not that I like the death penalty or other excessive punishment, quite the opposite). The sign that if you're rich enough you can get off with murder is a threat to the core stability of society.

Plea deals when you're rich are a completely different thing than when you're poor apparently.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Documentaries/comments/7bwh7q/mark_... https://www.reddit.com/r/Documentaries/comments/7bwh7q/mark_...

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/25/facebook-ceo-mark-zuckerberg...

And here's his statement about having done so:

https://web.archive.org/web/20170130025034/http://thegardeni...

OK?

Still, Gianforte was elected months later in a special election to replace Zinke as Montana’s congressman.

Yes I know I could have just Googled it. I don't actually care who Zinke is, or what her or his first (last?) name might be. My comment was about journalistic standards. Sorry to confuse you.

My point was that they didn't violate any standards, by telling you who Zinke is right after mentioning his name.

The other problem then, is that all this land is managed by bureaucrats in Washington DC. A better solution would be to give the bulk of this land to the states who are closer to the local residents and can more effectively manage the property. Limited easements should then be purchased from willing sellers.

Depending on if there's an easement on your property, yes. These kinds of things are usually spelled out clearly in real-estate deals. A lot of homeowners on the beach think they own the land up to the water but that's not always the case despite them trying to block access. No one has to necessarily cross their property to get there either.

In California, it is literally never the case, by state law.

Also remember something similar happening in Malibu.