Who killed Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru?
So who did it? Who killed the lovable Aunt Beru and the strict but sweet Uncle Owen? It's been a topic that has come up on Star Wars message boards, backyard picnics and cons all over the the world. If you are a local from Tatooine then the answer is pertty easy. Luke Skywalker. Who has the motivation to see them dead? The young farm boy who wanted nothing more than to leave his home for a 'great adventure'. Luke Skywalker, who also ran off to join the rebellion, the day they were killed. The same Luke Skywalker that killed thousands when he attacked the Death Star. That's how people on Tatooine saw it. What about us the fans? Who is the most liekly person to have killed them? Let's take a look:
Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi
Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi
Could Obi-wan himself killed Owen and Beru? He needed Luke to leave Tatoonie and start his training as a Jedi in order to bring freedom to the galaxy. He knew Owen kept Luke on a tight leash and wouldn't have let him just run off with "old Ben" without telling him of Obi-wan's past. This would have lead to many questions for Luke to ask Obi-wan. Questions that he couldn't, or wasn't willing to, answer just yet.
Feeling the presence of R2, Obi-wan knew this was the time to meet Luke and start him down this Jedi path. Using the force, Obi-wan has R2 sneak out at night to look for him. As the day breaks, Obi-wan knows Luke will leave Owen and Beru alone to search for the new droid. As Luke and 3P0 search for R2, could Obi-wan have came to the Lars homestead, and murdered the couple, freeing Luke from their watchful eye? With the two out of the way, and no place for Luke to go, he has no choice but to go with Obi-wan. Sure it might have been an evil plan, but after all this was to restore freedom to the galaxy. What is two deaths to save millions. It also seems that Obi-wan knew the Lars are dead. He warns Luke that it's dangers to return home but does little to stop him. He needed Luke to see the dead bodies, he needed Luke to think it was the Empire that did it. After all does the Empire just kill people? If it was the Empire, wouldn't it have been better to use them as bait? When the Empire over takes the Blockade Runner at the start of the movie, do they kill without reason? No, we see them taking the rebels as prisoners. If they wouldn't have kill unarmed rebel soldiers then why kill and burn Owen and Beru? Even in "Empire" when Han Solo takes a shot at Vader, Vader doesn't kill him, he only takes his gun. Obi-wan tells Luke that stormtroopers killed the Jawas and made it look like it was done by Tusken Raiders. Why? The Empire is the ruling power. They didn't have to hide what they do, or who they kill. Obi-wan could have also killed the Jawas to help seal Luke's hate for the Empire. So could it have been Obi-wan or is there someone else, someone who wanted the bounty?
Boba Fett-
Feeling the presence of R2, Obi-wan knew this was the time to meet Luke and start him down this Jedi path. Using the force, Obi-wan has R2 sneak out at night to look for him. As the day breaks, Obi-wan knows Luke will leave Owen and Beru alone to search for the new droid. As Luke and 3P0 search for R2, could Obi-wan have came to the Lars homestead, and murdered the couple, freeing Luke from their watchful eye? With the two out of the way, and no place for Luke to go, he has no choice but to go with Obi-wan. Sure it might have been an evil plan, but after all this was to restore freedom to the galaxy. What is two deaths to save millions. It also seems that Obi-wan knew the Lars are dead. He warns Luke that it's dangers to return home but does little to stop him. He needed Luke to see the dead bodies, he needed Luke to think it was the Empire that did it. After all does the Empire just kill people? If it was the Empire, wouldn't it have been better to use them as bait? When the Empire over takes the Blockade Runner at the start of the movie, do they kill without reason? No, we see them taking the rebels as prisoners. If they wouldn't have kill unarmed rebel soldiers then why kill and burn Owen and Beru? Even in "Empire" when Han Solo takes a shot at Vader, Vader doesn't kill him, he only takes his gun. Obi-wan tells Luke that stormtroopers killed the Jawas and made it look like it was done by Tusken Raiders. Why? The Empire is the ruling power. They didn't have to hide what they do, or who they kill. Obi-wan could have also killed the Jawas to help seal Luke's hate for the Empire. So could it have been Obi-wan or is there someone else, someone who wanted the bounty?
Boba Fett-
Could it have been Boba Fett that burned the couple to death? First let's look at where Boba Fett is during this time period. The official canon stands that Fett is with Jabba at Mos Eisley a few hours after the Lars are killed. But why Fett? We do know, that when the Empire can't find someone, Vader will hire bounty hunters. Upset at how slow his men were at trying to find the Droids, Vader could have made a call out to Fett and other bounty hunters. Fett, who always needs some extra credits, was already on Tatooine, could have picked up the hunt for the droids. The stormtroopers would have not killed the Lars with out orders from Vader. Would Vader had ordered the death of his family members? It seems most likely he would have ordered the stormtroopers to take them in. Again stormtroopers have no reason to try and cover up the murdering of Jawas. Fett had a reason. By killing the Jawas and the Lars this would have made it harder for any other bounty hunters who may have been trying to track down the droids. Then we have a hint that it was Fett in "The Empire Strikes Back". When Vader is talking to the bounty hunters, he makes it clear that he wants them alive, he turns to Boba Fett and adds "no disintegrations". It's clear that Vader is directing this to Fett, and we can guess that this means they have had problems before. The words "disintegrations" is a odd word to use. Who in the Star Wars films have we seen disintegrated? The Jawas, Owen and Beru. Disintegration wouldn't happen by blaster fire or even a Lightsaber. It would take more, it would take burning the bodies. We know Fett has a weapon on his arm to easly burn a victim of his choosing. Fett was a bounty hunter that would do anything to get his bounty.
So who killed Owen and Beru? Stormtroopers on order by Vader? Obi-wan in order to get Luke to go with him? Boba Fett in an attempt to collect his bounty? Let us know what you think! Discuss it with us on our Facebook page here or our Twitter page.
So who killed Owen and Beru? Stormtroopers on order by Vader? Obi-wan in order to get Luke to go with him? Boba Fett in an attempt to collect his bounty? Let us know what you think! Discuss it with us on our Facebook page here or our Twitter page.