self-defense

self-defense
/self"di fens", self'-/, n.
1. the act of defending one's person when physically attacked, as by countering blows or overcoming an assailant: the art of self-defense.
2. a claim or plea that the use of force or injuring or killing another was necessary in defending one's own person from physical attack: He shot the man who was trying to stab him and pleaded self-defense at the murder trial.
3. an act or instance of defending or protecting one's own interests, property, ideas, etc., as by argument or strategy.
Also, esp. Brit., self-defence.
[1645-55]

* * *

In criminal law, an affirmative defense (e.g., to a murder charge) alleging that the defendant used serious force necessarily for self-protection.

The claim of self-defense must normally rely on a reasonable belief that the other party intended to inflict great bodily harm or death and that avoidance by retreating was impossible. See also homicide.

* * *

▪ law
      in criminal law, justification for inflicting serious harm on another person on the ground that the harm was inflicted as a means of protecting oneself.

      In general, killing is not a criminal act when the killer reasonably believes that he is in imminent danger of losing his life from an assailant or of suffering serious bodily injury and that killing the assailant is necessary to avoid the peril.

      The doctrines of self-defense are qualified by the requirements of retreat. An unoffending party subjected to a felonious assault by another may stand his ground and kill when the conditions necessary to lawful self-defense are otherwise satisfied. Some countries, however, require that even in this case the party claiming exculpation must avoid danger by retreat when this can be done without increasing his peril.

      When the party has contributed in some measure to the altercation, he is required to make every possible effort to retreat. If he initiated the quarrel by launching a felonious assault, he must wholly withdraw from the altercation and clearly communicate to the other party a purpose to desist from further attack before he can claim the right of self-defense.

      The rules relating to the use of deadly force to save a third person from death or serious injury bear an obvious relation to the doctrines of self-defense. In cases in which the party defended is a member of the killer's household to whom he owes special obligations of protection, homicide is generally excused if the killer reasonably believed the deceased to be an aggressor and the killing to be necessary to save the third person's life. In some states of the United States and in some European countries, a person can use such force only if the third party would have been privileged to use such force in his own defense.

      A person may generally kill to prevent the commission of a violent felony if he reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent the felony. And lethal force may sometimes be used to subdue an individual who is escaping from a valid arrest. See also homicide. (homicide)

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • SELF-DEFENSE — (in modern Jewish history). Jewish efforts against attacking mobs in Russia and in Austria Hungary from the end of the 19th century until shortly after World War I. The nature of the pogroms in this period (especially in the years 1881–82,… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • self-defense — n. The act of defending oneself against threatened injury; the right to protect oneself or one’s family from immediately threatened harm, which can serve as a defense in a criminal or tort action arising out of injuries caused by an act of self… …   Law dictionary

  • Self-defense — Défense personnelle Pour les articles homonymes, voir Autodéfense. Défense avec la paume de main sur une tentative de saisie Le terme défense personnelle, ou le terme …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Self-défense — Défense personnelle Pour les articles homonymes, voir Autodéfense. Défense avec la paume de main sur une tentative de saisie Le terme défense personnelle, ou le terme …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Self defense — Défense personnelle Pour les articles homonymes, voir Autodéfense. Défense avec la paume de main sur une tentative de saisie Le terme défense personnelle, ou le terme …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Self défense — Défense personnelle Pour les articles homonymes, voir Autodéfense. Défense avec la paume de main sur une tentative de saisie Le terme défense personnelle, ou le terme …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Self-Defense — • The right of a private person to employ force against any one who unjustly attacks his life or person, his property or good name Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Self Defense     Self Defense …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • self-défense — [sɛlfdefɑ̃s] n. f. ÉTYM. 1873, in Höfler; 1869 comme mot angl., in Höfler; 1899 en zool. in Année sc. et industr. 1900, p. 151; angl. self defense, de self , et defense « défense ». ❖ ♦ Anglic. Procédé de défense où la personne attaquée n utilise …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • self-defense — self de fense noun uncount 1. ) actions that you take or force that you use in order to protect yourself: in self defense: Margaret claims she was acting in self defense when she shot him. 2. ) fighting skills that you can use to defend yourself… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • self-defense — [self′di fens′] n. 1. defense of oneself or of one s rights, beliefs, actions, etc. 2. the skill of boxing: usually in the phrase manly art of self defense 3. Law the right to defend oneself with whatever force is reasonably necessary against… …   English World dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”