Telephone calls to 911 are still recorded and often broadcast in a courtroom in front of a jury. So what should I say when calling 911? The basics are: “There was a burglary and shooting on (address), send an ambulance. I am the resident. I am one (man/woman, age, race, description of clothes worn). The other occupant is (male/female, age, race, description of clothes worn). Please hurry. Also note that the legal doctrine of “transferred intent” applies in cases of self-defense/battery in California. This doctrine states: If you find yourself in this situation, you should immediately call 911 for help. If you have a lawyer, call them while waiting for the police, or contact a criminal defense attorney immediately so they can be present and advise you before answering questions about the shooting. The California Court of Appeals interpreted this section as creating a “rebuttable presumption” that anyone who uses lethal force against an intruder in his residence did so out of a well-founded fear of imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm. What does this “rebuttable presumption” mean when I shoot an intruder in my home? This means that if you are charged and evidence is presented at your trial that you shot a member who is not a member of the household and whom you knew or have reasonable grounds to believe had entered your residence illegally, you will be deemed to have had well-founded fears that you, a family member or other member of your household is killed or seriously injured.

Therefore, your use of lethal force was legal. However, the AD will have the right to present evidence to the contrary and argue before the jury that it can and should ignore the presumption that you acted lawfully when you shot the intruder. The best thing you can do if you face charges for shooting someone who tried to break into your car is to hire a defense attorney who is experienced in criminal law. At Simmrin Law Group, we have worked with many clients who have been wrongfully arrested while trying to protect themselves, their loved ones or their property from real criminals. They were forced to defend themselves accordingly when the other person escalated the physical conflict through the unjustified use of lethal force. However, a person cannot invoke self-defense if he or she deliberately starts a fight as a pretext to use violence against the other person. In addition, the resident has the right to use lethal force (in self-defense) in their home if someone uses force to break and enter.12 Self-defense serves as a legal defense for many crimes, including: To determine relevance, a judge or jury can determine whether an accused knew someone had threatened or hurt someone else in the past.4 Self-defense is a legal strategy. who alleges that a defendant acted in a manner consistent with his or her own protection. another person or his property against an attempt to injure another. California jury instructions allow defendants to use self-defense to justify their actions when charged in a criminal case with certain violent offenses. If the evidence proves self-defence, a jury could acquit an accused on the basis that his or her actions were justified in the circumstances.

Usually, the answer is no. While there are a few exceptions, most states, including California, do not allow the use of lethal force just because someone is trying to steal your car. But if someone steals the car through armed robbery, for example, that`s a whole other matter – this situation could trigger the law of self-defense. As you can see, self-defence laws are complicated. Proving that you acted in self-defense, especially if you used a gun, can often be difficult. Even using this defence in court can be complicated. While the burden of proof in criminal proceedings generally lies with the Public Prosecutor`s Office, the burden of proof in the assertion of self-defence is temporarily transferred to the accused. The defence is justified when there is imminent danger and the force used in response to the aggressor is appropriate.

Many people may have heard of a legal principle called the “castle doctrine,” which applies to a situation where, as the name suggests, a person can use self-defense to protect their home or “castle.” This doctrine applies even in other places outside the home if you have the right to be there – for example, in your own car. Since the creation of this legal principle, a person no longer has the obligation to retreat if someone breaks into their home, and a person can legally use lethal force to defend themselves or someone else in their home. Self-defence can be used as an excuse when a person has good reason to believe that a threat exists, but that belief does not have to be accurate, just reasonable. In making this decision, a jury will determine whether a reasonable person in a similar situation would have reached the same conclusion as the accused. Even if you`re not in your car right now, but a friend or family member is inside, shooting the person breaking into your vehicle is likely to be considered appropriate violence. However, if the criminal did not know that someone was inside, and witnesses can confirm that you did not give a warning before shooting, your self-defense/defense of other claims could collapse. Note that this is true even if someone touches another to a small extent. California law states that any contact can be illegal if made in a rude or angry manner.17 Touching doesn`t even have to cause pain or injury for someone to act in self-defense.18 Imperfect self-defense is a legal term that applies when a person believes (1) that they are in imminent danger of bodily harm or death. or (2) that his use of force was necessary, to protect himself, but (3) at least one of these beliefs was unreasonable. In other words, the defendant acted according to his honest feelings, but a reasonable person in a similar situation would not have perceived the danger or reacted in the same way. While these differences may seem small at first glance, they can have important legal implications. California law allows a person to use self-defense or violence when defending themselves or others in certain situations.

A person has the right to use force if he or she has reason to believe that he or she is in imminent danger of bodily harm and that such force is necessary to stop the danger to himself or herself or another person. The level of force you may use is based on the level of force reasonably required in the circumstances described in California Penal Code 187 PC. Whenever a gun is used, even to prevent someone from stealing your car, it is considered deadly violence. While we have the right to defend ourselves and our property, most of the time we do not have the right to use lethal force to protect property. It is important to talk to a defence lawyer experienced in criminal law about your situation to determine your rights and understand what level of force is justified by the law. Self-defence may be a legitimate argument as long as the defendant has reasonable grounds to believe that he or she was in imminent danger at the time of the incident. A danger is considered “imminent” if the threat is present or immediate, such as when it occurs in the presence of a person. An imminent danger is not an anticipated threat of action that may or may not occur in the future. Let`s take the following example: an armed robber breaks into your house and points his gun at you. You draw your gun and shoot him before he can shoot you and kill him. In this situation, you would not be convicted of murder because you reasonably believed that you were in imminent danger and responded responsibly by using lethal force.

Note that a police officer who needs to enter your home as part of their job will legally enter your home. This situation is not the same as an intruder who invades your home to steal your belongings or harm you and your family. Therefore, shooting the officer would not be considered self-defence. In California, you have the right to protect your property. However, there are limits to this right. You may only use force as reasonably deemed necessary to protect your property.