When people are aggressive towards you or appear to intend to do you harm, you don’t have to stand there and take the abuse. You have the right to defend yourself and neutralize the threat against you, a fact Criminal Defense Lawyers in Gilbert AZ can use to help you defend yourself in court against any criminal charges you’re facing. However, that doesn’t mean you can do anything you want and expect the judge or jury to pardon your actions. There are a few things the court takes into account when determining whether to believe you acted in self-defense.
Who Was the Aggressor?
The circumstances surrounding the situation will play a critical part in whether or not the court accepts the self-defense argument your Criminal Defense Lawyers in Gilbert AZ will put across to them. If the person attacks you first, then the court will likely side with you if you neutralize the threat he or she posed.However, the situation may not always be as clear-cut. If you attack the other person first without provocation, then a self-defense claim will likely fail. However, if you hit the person first to prevent them from attacking you then you may be found not guilty of the crime because the person posed an obvious threat even though he or she didn’t touch you. Visit for more information.
Reasonable Force
Another thing the court will consider is how much force was used relative to the threat posed. In general, you can only use as much force as is reasonably necessary to escape the threat. If a person pushes you into a wall, shooting the individual with a gun may be seen as unreasonable, especially if the other person did not have a weapon of any kind.However, if you hit someone with a baseball bat who attempts to strike you with a lead pipe, then the court may be more willing to accepting a self-defense plea because the counterforce was equal to the aggression.Being involved in a fight or other situation where you have to meet violence with violence can lead to you being arrested for assault and battery. Connect with Criminal Defense Lawyers in Gilbert AZ who can effectively show you were protecting yourself from harm. Contact The law firm of Janet R. Feeley L.L.C.
