Domestic violence incidents are far more common than many would like to admit, and it is fairly easy for victims to be charged with committing the offense. There are a number of reasons why this may happen: Some people become entrapped in their loved one’s jealous actions, while others may fall victim to haphazard police work that leads authorities to the wrong conclusions.
Regardless of the reason, if you want to know how you can claim self-defense to help you avoid a wrongful domestic violence conviction, speaking with an attorney can help. Criminal cases involving physical relationship abuse are very complex and will require an experienced self-defense lawyer with in-depth knowledge of your state’s laws to properly mount a claim.
The self-defense domestic violence concept is one that is regularly misunderstood. Although Americans would generally accept that a person should be allowed to protect themselves from harm, there are very specific rules provided by each state.
Although every state allows violent crime defendants to claim self-defense, the rules that determine whether or not a person acted in self-defense vary.
Self-defense claims are fairly common, and the rules about the situations in which a person can defend themselves and the amount of force they are allowed to use can be complicated. Everything can be made much simpler with the advice of a competent local attorney.
Attorney Randy Collins has successfully obtained numerous not guilty verdicts for domestic violence defendants in Orange County that thought their cases were hopeless. Contact us online or call (844) 807-8180 to take advantage of a free consultation and get the help you need.
Why Courts Reject These Claims
In general, prosecutors will often scoff at self-defense in domestic violence cases during every stage of the proceeding. Why is debatable, but there are a lot of people who try to use this strategy when it does not apply.
This can make it much more difficult for real victims facing charges to prove that they are innocent. Although judges and juries are instructed to concentrate on the facts, these types of cases affect people emotionally. If it appears as though an attacker is pretending to be a victim, the courts are likely to come down very hard on them.
The following are reasons why those who claim their actions were in self-defense fail to convince a judge and or jury:
No Immediate Threat
In order to prove that a person was defending themselves, they have to prove that they were, or that they believed they were, in imminent danger. In California, this means that a person believes that they are in immediate danger of being touched unlawfully, killed, or injured.
Immediate danger example: Frank and Jenny have been together for one year and have been living together for two months. They have had their fair share of arguments, but today was different; Jenny was hysterical over some female clothing that she had found in her room, and Frank told her it was his new girlfriend’s clothing. He told her that he wanted her out of their home and that he was tired of hiding his new relationship. She grabbed a knife out of a kitchen drawer and lunged at him with a sharp blade. Frank punches Jenny in the face, knocking her out immediately, and called the police. Since she had lunged at him with a sharp blade, she had created a situation in which he had a legitimate fear that Jenny was about to seriously injure or kill him. This situation would allow Frank’s response.
Irrational Response
Although it is legal to protect yourself against a domestic violence abuser, it is only legal under very specific circumstances. In addition, if a person responds to an immediate threat in a way that is irrationally aggressive or dangerous, this can create problems for them in the courtroom.
Irrational response example: Marcia and Rex have been together for 3 years and fight regularly. Rex is very immature and is regularly doing things that drive Marcia crazy. One day, he has a lighter and is threatening that he is going to burn a piece of her hair. Rex is a regular smoker. Each time he would light a cigarette during that day he would motion his lighter close to Marcia’s hair and act as though he was going to singe it. While she is opening a letter, he acts as though he is going to singe her hair. This time, she uses the letter opener to stab him. Although Marcia may have felt genuine fear that Rex was about to harm her, her decision to stab him in response would most likely be considered a response that is not proportional to the threat, leading her to a possible conviction.
Orange County Self-Defense Assistance
Those planning to claim self-defense in a court of law face an uphill battle; many of those who have domestic violence self-defense cases do not appear to be the victim, which can be detrimental to their case. A skilled lawyer will investigate all of the facts and listen to your side of the story.
Just because you are charged with a crime does not mean you are guilty. With experienced legal representation, you may be able to expose flaws in your prosecutor’s case and have crucial evidence thrown out.
Those facing charges are invited to contact us for a free confidential case evaluation. Our Orange County attorneys have years of experience assisting countless domestic violence defendants. They can help you better understand the charges you are facing and help determine what options you have available.