When a defendant tries to prove that he or she acted in self-defense, what must he or she show?

What will be an ideal response?


When a defendant tries to prove that he or she acted in self-defense and introduces evidence that the deceased was known as a person of violent character in general, the defendant must also show that the defendant had knowledge of the victim's violent character. Knowledge of the violent character of the victim is necessary if the defendant is going to allege that he or she thought his or her life was endangered. The evidence that the defendant can use includes reputation, opinion, and specific instances of aggressive conduct by the victim. Any evidence about the victim's aggressive character known to the defendant is relevant to support the defendant's claim that he or she feared the victim. This evidence, strictly speaking, is not offered to prove the victim's character in the sense that the victim acted in conformity with the character trait of aggressiveness on the occasion in question. Rather, the evidence is only offered to show the defendant believed the victim was likely to be an aggressor.

Criminal Justice

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