“Under Utah law, this is called “imperfect self-defense,” which applies when someone believes they were defending themselves but were not legally justified.”
I swear, there must be a Billion shades of grey in the legal system.
8 Likes
His defense was seriously “she was yelling at me and I didn’t know if she had a weapon”?
Let’s say he’s lucky I wasn’t on that jury.
10 Likes
I swear there was a lack of grey matter in the jury’s head. They are the ones that decided the case. Twelve people that apparently slept during the trial if everything in the article is true. 1 to 15 years. Cut that in half for good behavior and he could be out in 6 months. Sometimes I question why I love this country so much.
8 Likes
Self Defense laws are really not complex. Law enforcement, Judiciary and Juries are, which is why a GREAT lawyer is your only valid game plan should you ever need to use lethal force (actually ANY force) to defend yourself (or others).
Just about all SD laws are pretty uniform around the country. And actually most states have done a great job of making them relatively homologous across the country based on case law.
Just about any place you find yourself, In order to use deadly force you need to be be convinced that this is your only/best option to PREVENT:
1- Death
2- Great physical harm
3- Criminal sexual assault
If you meet the above criteria, legally you’re good to go. But now your lawyer has to manipulate The Matrix…
10 Likes
Very true.
And generally, actually observing a weapon or something capable of inflicting lethal force or great bodily harm is what helps your lawyer prove
I don’t understand this jury’s verdict. I would not have gone with imperfect self defense in this case.
1 Like
THIS jury’s verdict is the direct product of a WEAK and/or indifferent prosecution/prosecutor. If the facts are as stated in the article, this was a murder by a scumbag that should spend the rest of his sorry life in jail.
5 Likes
That would have been my conclusion had I been a juror.
3 Likes
Soooooo,…. What youre saying is this wouldn’t qualify as self defense?
3 Likes
That’s according to whether the dummy said something he didn’t like!
4 Likes
Or just looked at me “wrong”… 
5 Likes
I think he got off easy! Lack of clear identification of a deadly threat is high on my list of reasons why. In this world where mean words are a micro aggression, he started the confrontation. Just sayin’
4 Likes
