ANNE ARUNDEL, CALVERT, CHARLES, ST. MARY’S & PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTIES.
Self Defense Cases | Haskell & Dyer
If You Were Defending Yourself or Someone Else, the Law May Be on Your Side.
When a death resulted from protecting yourself or another person, self defense may fully justify what happened. Built carefully and proven properly, it is not a partial excuse. It can be a complete answer to the charge.
If You're Facing This
Say nothing until you have a lawyer, even if you know you were right.
People who acted in self defense often want to explain everything, because they believe the truth will speak for itself. But a rushed statement can be twisted and used against you. Self defense has to be built and presented the right way. Stay silent and call a lawyer before you say a word.
A Complete Defense
Self Defense Is a Justification, Not Just an Excuse
This is different from arguing about degrees of murder. If self defense applies, the law treats the act as justified, and that can mean an acquittal.
1
You reasonably believed you were in danger. You faced an honest and reasonable fear of death or serious bodily harm to yourself or another.
2
The threat was immediate. The danger was happening then, not a past wrong or a future worry.
3
The force was proportional. The level of force you used matched the threat you were facing in that moment.
Two Forms
Defending Yourself, and Defending Others
The law recognizes the right to protect not only yourself, but the people around you.
Self Defense
Protecting Yourself
When you reasonably believed you faced death or serious harm and responded with proportional force, the law may justify your actions completely, even when the result was a death.
Defense of Others
Protecting Someone Else
The right to defend extends to protecting another person from harm. Stepping in to defend a family member or even a stranger can carry the same legal justification as defending yourself.
When It Is Not Perfect
Imperfect Self Defense Can Still Help
Even when full self defense does not apply, an honest but unreasonable belief in danger can still matter.
Perfect Self Defense
A Complete Answer
When all the requirements are met, perfect self defense is a full justification. It can result in an acquittal, because the law treats the act as one you were entitled to take.
Imperfect Self Defense
A Reduction
If you honestly believed you were in danger but that belief was not fully reasonable, imperfect self defense can reduce a murder charge to manslaughter, lowering the exposure significantly.
How We Build a Self Defense Case
Self defense is won on preparation. We develop the full picture of what you faced and why your response was justified.
We Reconstruct the Threat
We build out exactly what you were facing, the danger, the timing, and why your fear was honest and reasonable.
We Gather the Proof
Witnesses, injuries, the scene, and any history of threats can all support that you acted to protect yourself or another.
We Show Proportionality
We make the case that the force you used matched the threat, the core of a successful self defense argument.
We Preserve the Fallback
Where perfect self defense is contested, we develop imperfect self defense too, to reduce the charge if needed.
Common Questions
Self Defense Cases, Answered
Can self defense really be a complete defense to a homicide charge?
Yes. When the requirements are met, perfect self defense is a full legal justification, not just a mitigating factor. The law treats the act as one you were entitled to take, and that can lead to an acquittal. It has to be built and proven carefully, which is exactly what we do.
What does the law require for self defense?
In general, you must have honestly and reasonably believed you faced an immediate threat of death or serious harm, and the force you used must have been proportional to that threat. The specifics depend on the facts, and developing each of those points fully is central to the defense.
What is imperfect self defense?
It applies when you honestly believed you were in danger, but that belief was not fully reasonable, or the force was not perfectly proportional. It does not result in acquittal, but it can reduce a murder charge to manslaughter, which significantly lowers the exposure. We develop it alongside the main defense.
Did I have to try to retreat first?
Whether a duty to retreat applies depends on the situation and where the events happened, and it is a fact-specific question. It is one of the most important issues in a self defense case, and we analyze it closely against the exact circumstances of what you faced.
I know I was defending myself. Why do I need a lawyer?
Because being right is not enough on its own. Self defense has to be presented properly, and a rushed statement can be twisted against you. The State will test every part of your account. A strong, well-built defense is what turns the truth of what happened into a legal result.
Did You Act to Protect Yourself or Someone You Love? Let's Tell That Story Right.
Self defense, built and proven properly, can be a complete answer to the charge. Tell us what happened and get an honest read on how we make that case. The first conversation is free and confidential.
Arrested or being questioned? Call our 24/7 line now: 240-687-0179
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC Practicing Law in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s, and Prince George’s Counties.
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC Practicing Law in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s, and Prince George’s Counties.
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC
Fax: 301-627-5848
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