Self Defense...Other Defense

United States
December 12, 2009 5:44am CST
Okay.....so if you kill someone while defending yourself against them it's selfdefense and most likely criminal charges/punishment will not be brought upon you, correct? What I'm wondering is, if you kill someone in the act of defending another...what is that called and what(if anything) would be possible punishment for that? Thanks for the help!!!
1 person likes this
4 responses
ElicBxn
@ElicBxn (61070)
• United States
13 Dec 09
could be justifiable homicide or a form of self defense - because if they attacked that person, they might come after you next are you thinking your werewolf or what?
LilyoftheThorns
@LilyoftheThorns (12925)
• United States
13 Dec 09
That's the term my dad used, "justifiable homicide." It sounds like a clinical enough term...but in a case like my example I'm not sure 'homicide' what be a correct term. Wouldn't it be manslaughter or second/third degree? What about a werewolf? O.o Thanks! :D
1 person likes this
ElicBxn
@ElicBxn (61070)
• United States
13 Dec 09
well, homicide is the term for "man kill" and manslaughter generally is getting to the point where the person was killed by accident - involuntary manslaughter for a person killed in a car accident - (these days it also generally means no drinking was involved.) Justifiable homicide means that you killed the person, but you had good reason to do so, self defense is a form of justifiable homicide.
LilyoftheThorns
@LilyoftheThorns (12925)
• United States
13 Dec 09
Ooh I see. That makes sense. I thought manslaughter meant you killed someone WITHOUT planning to or intending to kill them when you met up. But I understand the whole 'accident' part of it. I've heard the term "vehicular manslaughter" before because I watch a lot of police shows. Thanks for explaining!!:D
1 person likes this
MsTickle
@MsTickle (25050)
• Australia
16 Dec 09
I think that's called manslaughter, rather than murder. It's when yoiu mean to kill the person but there are circumstances that cause the situation to not be called outright murder.
MsTickle
@MsTickle (25050)
• Australia
16 Dec 09
As for punishment...that never seems to be appropriate. It would be up to the magistrate or judge I guess. It would also depend on the actual circumstances I feel.
LilyoftheThorns
@LilyoftheThorns (12925)
• United States
16 Dec 09
I thought manslaughter meant you HADN'T meant to kill anyone but you accidentally did. But the circumstances part sounds right.
stephcjh
@stephcjh (32327)
• United States
13 Dec 09
I am not really sure, especially with the corrupt laws these days. I am not sure if that person would be charged with manslaughter or what would really happen to them. The laws are too corrupt to say.
drknlvly6781
@drknlvly6781 (6251)
• United States
12 Dec 09
I don't know if they have an actual term for this; but there has to be some type of motion that can be carried in these circumstances. If it were a spouse killing to protect the other, or a parent killing for their child, the courts would have to understand the emotional aspect of things and give special consideration. I just don't know what this would be called.