Don't bring a chair to a gun fight!

@fast 911 - That's Funny

@fast 911 - This judge sound a like a real jerk. Like he's paying a game setting bail high priced, then expecting him to come back to get it lowered. Giving the judge more time on the bench WAISTING other peoples money and time.

@fast 911 - Unles of course the chair was loaded. Then that's a totally different story.

@fast 911 - He shot to soon.

@fast 911 - Who doesn't want their bail lowered!

@fast 911 - Sad what has happened.

Personally If it came to last resort to shoot a family member out of self defence I WOULD DO IT TO DISARM THE FAMILY MEMBER, NOT TO KILL THEM. Leg would definatly disarm anYone or slow them to where you can get an edge on them in hand to hand defense.

@fast 911 - Depends on the chair...was it one of those cheap metal chairs that professional wrestlers use to bang on each other with?

A Queen Anne style chair in the hands of the right person can be quite lethal.

A lazy-boy recliner on the other hand would prove to be too unwielding....its hard to lift it over your head and swing it around...but it is extremely comfortable.

I myself prefer a French Provincial style chair in a fight....it combines the light weight assets of the Queen Anne with the added bonus of curved legs that easily break off after the first blow has been struck...the legs can then be used to throw at the attacker.....it's also quite comfortable to rest in after the fight is over.....provided that the legs are still attached.

@fast 911 - My thoughts: 1. Arguement on Saturday between Strate and Victim 2.Sunday: Strates wife was arguing with her brother(the victim) about moving the mother into a nursing home, which would leave him fending for himself. 3.Strate was at a store picking up things to work at his mother-in-laws house during the arguement. 4. The wife calls Strate complaining about her brother, telling him to get there right away. 5. Strate already mad from the other day rushes over to the home with gun in his pants. 6. Strate pulls gun because he is angry. 7. Victim picks up chair to defend himself from Gun. 8. The chair made him more furious and he takes aim and fires until empty. Premeditated Murder and Guilty as Sin.

@fast 911 - Bail should be denied altogether for this creep.

@fast 911 - the thing about this is he when to the Vitim home then killed him

@fast 911 - Just a quick question...Does the sister and brother-inlaw get the dead guys house and property??? If I was the investigating this, that would be one of the first things I would be looking at. Pre-meditated murder has all kinds of angles. I don't know, but just because one person is more popular, doesn't give the more popular person the right to murder the other.

Wow! All that in court and financial support.
The dead BIL musta been a real jerk.

Why are they even allowing bail on a murder case? If you do not want to spend time in jail/prison, do not commit a crime...let him rot! His victim wasn't allowed bail.

@KAYA62003 - His 'victim' may not have exactly been a victim in this case.

@KAYA62003 - He's dead, isn't he? Sounds like a victim to me. Whether he "was asking for it" is irrelevant to the definition.

@KAYA62003 - Yeah, Sinder-

I'm interested in what you mean...

@KAYA62003 - I agree you should spend time in jail if you commit a crime. But last I heard he hadn't been convicted of a crime. Why don't you wait to pass judgment until all the facts come out.

@KAYA62003 - money got O.J. and many others off for murder ! Lets see if it works for this white Guy in Ut County ! He sure had Money to Buy his Mistress's Nice Earings and Jewelry. lets see him Buy his way out of this !

Kaya62003, it sounds like this could be a case of self defense. In which case, he would not be guilty. The hit & run drivers lately who have killed and maim people got nothing but a slap on the wrist.

@Robert84124 - Not necessarily. Meet force with force. I have had to defend my self in a few situations, but not with deadly force. He is going to have to prove that His brother in-law had the intentions of killing him to get out of this mess. I am all for self defense. I am a card carrying Concealed weapons carrier. But my gun is never my first option.

He is going to have to convince the jury that his life was in danger and that he didn't bring that danger upon himself through words or actions.

@Robert84124 - How do you claim "self defense" if you take a gun to the victim's house a day after you argue with him?
Sounds like Strate hired Mike Tyson's attorney... he's in big trouble.
Re: Bail - Is bail refunded if State commits suicide?
The judge is probably just trying to save his life. Steve knows what he did was wrong... and permanent. If someone thinks they can solve a problem by killing others... then they surely think that they can solve another problem by killing themselves.

@Robert84124 - Ento,

Threat to one's own life is not the only justification for deadly force. Threat to life of another or threat of bodily injury to oneself or another also justify deadly force.

I highly doubt anyone on this forum has the knowledge at this time to say with any certainty that this was not justified. Granted, the fact that he has been charged carries some weight, but that is why we have trials - to allow a neutral factfinder to weigh all the evidence.

Short and sweet is that he didn't have to feel his life was threatened, just that the other person had the imminent intent and opportunity to inflict harm.

@Robert84124 - >How do you claim "self defense" if you take a gun to
>the victim's house a day after you argue with him?

Depends. Some law-abiding people carry a gun with them wherever they go.

Even so, with the details of this case that I've heard, it doesn't sound like self-defense--it sounds like a fight. If you pick a fight, that doesn't make it self defense when you "defend" yourself.

@Robert84124 - That's what Strate has to hope for...
one juror to get lost in "technicalities".
I'm not that juror.
If you take a gun to someone's house the day after you argue with them; You're asking for trouble... and Steve's got just that.
There are alot of people that would consider chasing Strate out of their house with a chair if he brought a gun over the day after an argument.
No way do I buy "self defense".

@Robert84124 - If you take a gun to someones house with you, regardless of your reason and the person comes up dead (by your actions)...it looks like you premeditated the murder. If he is innocent or felt his life was in danger and he used self-defense, forensics will be able to determine that. I think that is great he turned himself in, however, i think all people charged with murder should stay in jail until after they have been proven innocent. Sorry if you do not agree with me but that is my opinion.

@Robert84124 - Maybe those hit and run drivers are acting in self-defense. Those awful pedestrians can inflict a lot of damage.

Yeah and he probably wants his gun back too. !!!k this guy.

@Frank A. - Steve has a concealed weapons permit and has carried a gun for as long as I have known him. None of us where there. None of us knows exactly what happened. Therefore none of us can judge another. First cast the moat out of your own eye.

@Frank A. - burrows2211- It is very hard for me to believe that he felt threatened enough to use his gun, because his brother-in-law came at him with a chair. I know everybody (especially me) is speculating what happened. The chair defense, is just as lame as the notorious "Twinkie Defense". I also stated in a different post, that i do not think anyone facing first degree murder charges, should be allowed bailed until they have been proven innocent.

@Frank A. - I remember that verse:

"First cast the moat from your own eye... before putting a bullet in the eye of your brother in law".
(That ole judgement sword cuts both ways)

@Frank A. - burrows

Mr. Strate will have his work cut out for him trying to convince a jury that his life was in danger. He could have turned and run ....... and the prosecution will point that out.

Kaya. My oh my how quick we are to start divying up body parts before the donor is dead. Easy now....

@stangisbad - I think it is appropriate to lower the bail. He called and turned himself in while confessing to the crime. He waited on the front porch, did not run and surrendered peacfully. I think in this case it would be appropriate. His brother-in-law had quite the issues according to the reports I've read but that's what trials are for. He is definetly not your average bad guy.

@stangisbad - You worry me gramps,
Sounds like you think the brother in law deserved to be gunned down in his own home on a Sunday afternoon. What did he do to deserve that? Was he the one that caused BYU to lose the day before?

@stangisbad - Nots,

I definetly don't think killing anyone is a good thing in any circomstances, in fact just the opposite. I just feel based upon what has been reported so far that this isn't your typical drug/drunk, gang related drive by situtation. I think he will show for the trial and he's out now anyway. What difference would it make to lower the bail? My guess is it will be pled to manslaughter and he will begin to serve his time. A lot of trauma for all involved. Whatever the killed victim did does not deserve death by any means.

@stangisbad - Notsotorious BIG,
Im sure there are a lot of scumbags who deserve to be gunned down in their own home on a Sunday afternoon. I don't think that's relevant.
Im not saying the victim was a scumbag necessarily, Im just saying that your romantic description of where he was has nothing to do with what kind of a human being he was. And the shooter sure has a lot of people backing him who are also willing to put their money where there mouth is.

@stangisbad - I'm against bail. I'll be surprised if Strate lives to see Thanksgiving. He's already proven that he thinks he can "kill" a problem away.
Strate's a proven "risk" to others,(and a financial liability to the state)... and he's a defenite risk to himself. Keep him in jail for his own safety. Then let the wisdom of justice figure out the rest over time.

@stangisbad - Stangisbad- Yes, I am quick to judge. I do not think people who are charged with first degree murder should be allowed freedom, until they have been proven innocent of their crime. If this case is self-defense, I guess i will have to eat my words. However, why would you take a gun with you to your brother-in-laws who your are feuding with? It almost makes him look like he premeditated this crime. I do not think first-degree murder charges (whether the person is innocent or not) should be handled lightly. If he is claiming self-defense he admitted to killing another human. It seems suspicious to me and that is my opinion.

@stangisbad - He might not be your average bad guy because he was wealthy?? He still killed a man. He raised $1,000,000 bail because he could. Bail should not be lowered for anyone, he is charged with first degree murder. He submitted a cashiers check for his bail. The prosecution didn't want him relaesed. They thought bail was set high enough to keep him imprisioned.

@stangisbad - There is no justification in pumping 6 or 7 slugs into someone who is coming after you with a chair and that will be pointed out at Strate's trial. If it had been a police officer instead of Strate everyone would be pointing that out.

W H Y
He's up for 1st degree murder

@Killo-Watt - ...because he killed a guy and it looks like he might have planned it...

@Killo-Watt - I think Killo meant WHY reduce bail...he IS up for 1st degree MURDER.
I agree.
He made bail...right?
He is out with his family and friends...right?
If he skips...his family and friends are out 1 MILLION dollars...right?

Who better to keep a watchful eye on him? If you have ever owed family money...they can be quite persuasive...Plus the State doesn't have to pay a "babysitter" for him to have 3 hots and a cot.

@Killo-Watt - Ah, rescuer, you may be right. Good point.

Man!! One million cash-only bail, and his friends coughed it up, notwithstanding he be charged with no less than murder? This man has better friends than I have!!

When I was in the clink for taking a non-original and somewhat altered prescription to the pharmacy, and my bail was only $10,000 and bondable, no one would help me. All it would have taken using a bail bondsman was $500 or maybe $1000, and my "friends" left me in there to rot!! They thought I was a bad person, and that I deserved it -- never mind that it was a non-violent crime, one that really hurt only myself. A convenient excuse for witholding help, I suppose.

They were wrong about me. They know that now (at least, I hope they do). And if they had been in jail on the same charge and all it took was $500 to $1000 to spring them and I had the money (as some of them did), I sure as heck would have gotten them out.

But I digress....

@GoldSoft - Gold, You really did have friends......They didn't want to be inablers to you. Believe me when I say I know about that kind of thing!

I really hope you have it together now. Unconditional love blurs very often with enabling.

I have a few years on my and I did a night or two in the slammer. I honestly think it did me good to go through that. I liken it to slamming your hand in a car door. After the first few times you take more care!

@GoldSoft - gramps,

I think there is much truth to what you say. However, apparently the reason for not helping was the thought that I would not be able to pay them back (the bondsman does keep the $500 or $1000 as his payment for extending the loan). Which wasn't at all true, as I received a $3,000 tax return from the IRS shortly after my arrest and subsequent release.

I did a stupid thing, even if it was non-violent and all, and I suppose I deserved a little "soft time." (Six days, as it turned out to be, and then the judge sent me home, bail or no bail.)

Anyway, I am squared away, now. At least, I have a full-time job, and have had since August of 2008. And I never did repeat the crime. So I guess I'm not too psycho anymore. And, really, I don't blame my friends. Even though I think they should have helped, I understand their reluctance. I was not especially promising back in those days. Some say I'm still not. But they are wrong.

@GoldSoft - Gramps,
Your posts are thoughtful and caring... I don't want you to think I'm picking on you.
But couldn't your "enabler" comment apply to this situation as well.
Steve's friends may have just given him the ability to harm himself.

@GoldSoft - Gold, I'm am very happy for you that you are on the right track. There are different level of friends. Some "friends" you get in trouble with, some friends will always be there for you in different ways and real friends will help you no matter what. The really good friends will help you help yourself. That doesn't always involve money but when you show good progress it usually will make your real friends help you more.

I don't know but your last post made me feel good. The most important person in life to impress is yourself....without being too korny if you keep living your life being aware of your actions/consequences and trying to do what's right by you, you will succeed. Success has nothing to do with money, car you drive or the place you live. Keep up doing good!!!!!

@GoldSoft - Nots,

You are correct about some friends being enablers but I always have told my kids and others that would listen that don't blame your so called friends. Remember your "Friends" parents also think of you as one of the troubled people they hang with. So the whole gang is at fault.

Wow, with this story I have really gotten off of the story line here. My recipe for a happy life:
1.Try to be the hardest worker on your crew/staff (note; you don't have to be the hardest worker ever but just on your crew)
2. Spend a little less than you make.
3. The softest pillow is a clean conscience.
4. Always fullfill the obligations you signed up for.
5. DONT SPEND ALL DAY ON KSL....GET SOME WORK DONE!!

@GoldSoft - Busted... #5 got me.
Outta here. Have a nice weekend gramps.

Theres a lot of speculation here so I'll add to it... We can see obviously the shooter is held in high esteem by his family, yet his brother in law is dead and his defense is a man was coming at him with a chair? That doesn't look good. furthermore, They had an argument the day before? Wow, thats doesn't look good for the shooter. Also, the shooter brought a gun to the house of his brother in law?
My opinion is just based on what I see here is, unless the victim is a world renown and deadly chair fighter champion, the shooter doesn't have much defense.
I guess the real question we can't answer is did the gun make it appearence before or after the chair moved

@Brian T. - All good points.

However, it does remain the case that the chair-wielder was apparently the first to get physical. Perhaps he brought a gun to the bra-in-law's pad because he was afraid of being attacked by him, which he apparently was.

I seem to recall that the house was not the brother-in-law's, but his mother's. I believe the now dead man did not want his mother put into a nursing home (where she would get good care) because it would throw him off of the gravy train.

@Old Redtail - get good care in a nursing home??? I can understand why he would not want to put his Mother in one :(
they are terrible places :(

@Old Redtail - I am not sure what the real situation is with the "mother" in this...but with a family I know, the mother didn't want to go to the rest home. The rest of the family wanted her to go to get her out of their hair. She was hard to care for and very mean. The two hours a week they were asked to sit with her was hard for them. Her son lived with her and defended her right to die at home. The rest of the family thought as Old Redtail because the son was a former druggie...but they were wrong. The mother had already signed the house over to her son for the years he took care of her. The rest were written out of her will.
This story might be different...none of us commenting really know unless one of is the "mother".

It is sad that all this has happened. It just goes to show that friends are a great asset to have.

I am assuming that Mr. Strate owns that crane business in Orem by the freeway. I personally have been driving by that business for as long as I can remember. I do not know the man but it would seem that he has been a respectful member of the business community for many years. I could be wrong on that one. So my point is what has the person Steve Strate been like in the past? Is he a violent man or not? Is it just possible that there is way more to this story that we don't know. Friends or family bailed him out on a million dollar bail bond. They must see a lot of good in Mr. Strate. It will be interesting to see how all of this turns out in the end.

I have had business dealings with Steve Strate from State Crane off of the Freeway. He is cold, ruthless and uncaring. He twists things to work to his advantage and finds every legal loop hole to work in his favor. He will do it again! Maybe he should call OJ

@Frank F. - I can hear Johnny Cochran now:
If his brother in law's life wasn't worth _____...
you must aquit.

@Frank F. - Mr. Frank, You must be the one with the problem of dishonesty! I have had business dealings with steve for over 15 years and have found him true to his word in every respect. I have never known Steve to cold or ruthless. How many times have you gone and picked up the handicap people and brought them to your work and gave or found them jobs? YOU ARE WRONG AND SHOULD KEEP YOU MOUTH SHUT. When you point a finger, 3 more are pointing back at you!

@Frank F. - burrows2211

Strate's actions in emptying his pistol into the victim indicate rage and not and act of self defense. If the jury sees it that way Strate will be going to prison.

The guy called in and told on himself so he has a conscience. Also, I think that he honestly felt that he was acting in self defense. After all, it is conceivable to think that it's possible to kill a guy with a chair. But if it were me, I'd have turned and ran from the guy with the chair before gunning him down. I guess it will be up to the jury to decide whether he should face the charges or not.

@loopy127 - Six to seven shots?? That seems like anger and agression not self defense.

@loopy127 - I'll bet the chair wasn't even in his hands after the 2nd or 3rd shot.

@loopy127 - It is hard to justify self defense somewhere after the 4th or 5th bullet. It is even harder to justify the use of deadly force against an attack with a chair when Strate had the obvious option of escaping the attack.

Who knows what happened. The son-in-law was drug users. Maybe a drug crazed man attacked another man with a chair and got shot. Semi-automatics in a high pressure moment and who counts the shots. The prosecutors are out of line seeking Murder 1 and are over reaching as usual.

When are we going to get some common sense lawyers working in the DA's office?

@utah15 - "Who counts the shots?"...
The jurors will.
If the prosecutor finds a way to show a video of just about any mammal being shot "6 or 7 times"...
or if the prosecutor finds a way to discharge the murder weapon "6 or 7 times" in court during the closing arguments... the trial is over.
Steve... your life is over. You imposed the "ultimate judgement" on another human being... "6 or 7 times".
There is not a jury in the world that won't convict you. Go back to jail, and give your friends their money back.

@utah15 - P.S. Utah 15
You ruined your chances of ever being a spokesperson for the NRA.

"Semi-automatics in a high pressure moment...
... and who counts the shots?"

You just gave the best argument "FOR" gun control that I have ever heard.
Let's consider another defense for Steve... so we can keep our guns ;-)

Hmm...if I were to draw a mustache on him just the width of his nose, he's look like Adolph Hitler.

Let me guess, he's going to use his prison time to write his memoirs, and call it Mein Kampf: Part Two.

I still cannot imagine being SO angry with your brother in law that you'd kill him. Was he on drugs?
Alcohol? What was it that mande this man snap like he did? I hope he can resolve it within himself, and get on with what's left of his life.

Basic common sense, you don't go in someone’s place of residence and confront them while in possession of a gun - not unless you’re a cop. Did he have life insurance on his brother-in-law?

Strate looks like Dustin Hoffman's rain man ya i shot him six times ya defiantly six times.

Self defense? The guy he shot could not hurt a fly, he was asout 120 pounds when wet. It would have taken alot more than a chair to hurt him!

From what I personally know of Strate. Have dealt with him on several occasions, doing sub-contract work for him. He was always a decent man always smiling, never angry, I don't understand where all this bad talking is coming from this is not the man i knew or still know and I'am still proud to call him friend! I dont know what happened that day nor do any of you, lots of factors are figured into this. For those of us that know steve you could tell in the 911 tape that he knew was now involved in a tragic situiation. I wont go as far as to say he's done wrong I'll wait for the jury to make the decision. I just want steve to know that he still has friends and support out here. Really just think how his life is now changed it could happen to any of us, ever got in a fight with someone? Life throws us curves and it threw him a dozzy here (Steve good luck brother stay strong much love Dave B.

@Dave B. - I have been in plenty of fights but unlike your buddy here I didn't pull a gun and shoot someone six or seven times.The only chair this upstanding citizen needs to be electric.

@Dave B. - Mr Frank,
Your one low life SOB. maybe you should just get a real life and stop judging others. maybe look at your own low life self.

@Dave B. - I feel for Steve's current "doozey curve ball" that life has dealt him...
But this happened to Steve because he delivered...
"6 or 7 doozey fast balls" into the body of Marvin.
Really just think how Marvin's life has changed since that day.
Good luck Marvin... and anyone else down on their luck. We won't allow others to decide if you live or die with a fair trial.

Much love... Society

@Dave B. - Typo:
"Without a fair trial"
sorry

@Dave B. - burrows2211

Frank A's comment is exactly what the prosection's case is going to hing upon. It is very likely that any jury in the Orem area will give Strate a pass. Translation: Strate is headed for prison.

Burrows thats the same thing your dad called when I was jumping out of your mom's bedroom window.

@Frank A. - Get a life! I'm sure you don't have the guts to put your real name on this. If you ever had any problems with Steve, I'm sure you were the one at fault!

@Frank A. - Frank I agree with you. The man (Steve) is a Cold s.o.b. and does not have a Guilty conscience in any thing he does !! Burrows must be one of his womanizing Buddies ?

@Frank A. - AND, I bet your going to church tomorrow. what a crock, judge yourself first.

@Frank A. - burrows2211

I don't quite see what "church" has to do with this story. When it is all boiled down we find that Strate emptied his pistol into a guy coming aftr him with a chair. That kind of attack does not justify the use of deadly force.

Even with an expensive lawyer Strate has a major mountain to climb. Juries in down in Orem just aren't going to by the "he came after me with a chair and so I filled him with lead" argument.

Steve Strate is a "Chicken Sh..T !! "Guns dont Kill People, Peaple Kill Peaple". an act of self defense ? I dont think so. He went looking for Trouble and found it !! it think its pretty "Chicken Sh..t" to empty your gun on an unarmed man who is using a chair for His self defense to block the Bullets ? to bad we cant hear Marvins side of the Story of what Steve said to him before filling him full of holes. I guess we wont be seeing a "Star" or "Christmas Tree" hanging from this "Nice" guy's Crane ? "I want a Mistress for Chritsmas" is what he will be singing this year !!

@smokie dog - You sound a little scorned yourself. Why don't you have the guts to put who this is really from? Hmmm

@smokie dog - burrows2211

smokie dog has a point. You don't pump 6 or 7 slugs into someone who is coming after you with a chair.

That, in the end, will be Strate's problem when he tries to explain in to a jury.

Burrows,
I can Honestly say I have been True to my Wife !! bet Steve cant say that ! LOL ! He has had many Affairs, one I know of Personally. My Ex Wife. The Man honestley Make me want to Puke !! cant stand him.

@smokie dog - Maybe your just mad at your ex and can't see through the blinders. I'm sure we all are looking at this through what we know of Steve. we'll just have to see what comes out in the trial.

@smokie dog - The only thing I "know of Steve" is that he shot a guy like Marvin 6 or 7 times.
I also know that Steve is fixing to spend the rest of his life living with the "Marvins" of society... in prison. I can't imagine a more appropriate punishment. This could be a great opportunity for Steve to grow and understand people like Marvin... instead of shooting them.

Burrows,
we will simply let it rest at your last Comment !! I am not God the Judge Nor the Jury. I will agree with what has been said. I do wish the best for Linda and the Children and for Mrs. Sidwell who had to bury one of her Children, which a Mother should never have to do ! God Bless................

It will be hard for Mr. Strate to convince a jury that it was necessary from him to shoot his brother-in-law multiple times because he came after him with a chair. If the victim had gone after him with a knife or gun it would be a different story.