WILL ANYONE PROSECUTE ME IF I KlLL SOMEBODY IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS? IF SO, WHO?

Question

WILL ANYONE PROSECUTE ME IF I KlLL SOMEBODY IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS? IF SO, WHO?

Answer 1

There are several ways you may be prosecuted by different entities.

First, you may prosecuted under the laws of the country that govern the ship you are on:  The flag of your ship.

Next, you may be prosecuted by the county of your victum, since nations maintain the right to defend their subjects.  This is one of the means that Isreal used for WWII war criminals, athough it was a questional basis since Isreal did not exisit at the time of the crimes.  Far better is....

You may be procesuted by ANY nation if the crime is "against humanity".  This is a contraversal theory but is has been used for war criminals, etc.  It may well be that p****y falls into this category under international law.

Answer 2

Arrrr.  p****y be a crime in whatever port ye be seekin' refuge.

Answer 3

In the first place why would you kill somebody in the international waters. It is definitely wrong to put justice in your hands. We do not have the right to take away somebody's life, it is unlawful, unless in self defense wherein every person has the right to protect himself and that of his family and friends. In that way nobody would prosecute you because you've done nothing wrong. Injury or death as a result of an action for self defense can be said as justified even in some traditions or customs aside from the laws almost all countries adhered to.

Answer 4

Whatever country's flag is flying on the boat your on, and if its a little raft, wherever the victim is from.

Answer 5

Unless you are an "ocean rated" skipper putting down a mutiny, or claiming self defense, or repelling an illegal boarding, you can be charged with murder by either the country of your vessel's registration, the country of the other vessel, or be hauled before an International Court of the High Seas, and be charged with murder / p****y.

Best bet....make d**n sure that there is no body to be found, you have no GPS record, and dispose of the lethal weapon involved in waters deeper than 100 fathoms {600 feet}.

Answer 6

Somebody, somewhere, will find a way to make you go to jail.

Now... what happens if you're in a boat between the US and China, and do something that's legal in the US, but illegal in China...

Answer 7

either your home country or your victim's home country can prosecute you. Also, the country that the ship is registered in and Germany, where anyone can be charged regardless of where the crime took place.

Answer 8

The court of country where the ship is registered will have jurisdiction over a person who kills somebody in international waters.

Answer 9

If you are on a large ship owned by a firm from a particular country, that country can prosecute you for the crime of murder.  If the boat is yours and you are from a particular country and the boat is registered in your name, you can be prosecuted in that country.  The only way that you can get away with it is if you are swimming in international waters and you murder the person swimming next to you.  If you are then picked up by a boat and you do not say anything, you are home free.  However, a situation like this is beyond one's imagination.   I wonder how long it took for you to dream up this question?  I wouldn't have thought of it in a hundred years.

Answer 10

Absolutely.  The 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC) lays out the current rules. As of April 2006, 149 nations had ratified the LOSC. The U.S. played a major role in the drafting of the LOSC, but then decided not to sign it. Never fear: the rules we're discussing here apply to the U.S. The U.S. is party to other treaties with similar provisions, has asserted rights available only under the LOSC, and has said that its provisions are part of existing international law. So it's the best place to start looking for answers.

Basically, you will be prosecuted either under the flag you are sailing, the person whom you killed is sailing, or this organization will decide if any jurisdictional difference is needed.  Either way, you killed someone, you are going to be prosecuted.  Note, if you are going to do so, you probably will not recieve the death penalty.

Answer 11

Remember all vessels, even those in international waters, are required to fly the flag of the country the ship is registered in. Guess what? Our coast guard/Navy has agreements with most countries around the world that give them the right to board ships flying that countries flag. Sooo.... don't get caught with the body on board. Dump it! As for whether they can prosecute you here because you were in international water when you committed the crime? That's going to be a good one for a lawyer...