Self-Defense in Law and Notable Self-Defense Cases
People can use serious force whenever possible when faced with threats or violence. A person can even resort to use deadly forces to the assailant for the sake of self-protection. However, one may be charged with criminal offense or civil claims when that incident occurs. Nevertheless, a person can claim for self-defense when there is a reasonable belief that the other party had the intention to inflict threats or bodily harm and that escape was impossible.
Normally, when people have to face the judge or the jury because of criminal charges or civil claims, they have to hire an attorney or a counsel to represent them in court. Hiring a lawyer can help the defendant in winning the case particularly if it is a self-defense case. Self-defense cases can be quiet complicated for it may need further investigation to determine if the act of crime of the defendant was a self-defense. Self-defense cases may result to the absolution of the defendant or to the defendant's conviction and imprisonment.
In certain laws, a defendant is still presumed innocent until proven guilty of a crime. It would take a process before a person charged of criminal or civil offense is to be convicted of a crime. Thus, he can hire more attorney as he can in order for him to win. However, there have been some outrageous incidents in self-defense cases in which the defendant represented himself or has asked the court for self-representation. This happened in America and some other countries.
Self-representation in court may be an opportunity for the defendant but at the same time an absurd and unreasonable appeal. Defendant who wants to represent himself and acts as his own attorney is more likely to be denied in court. However, there are incidents occurred in America in which the accused became their own lawyers. An example of this is that of Ted Bundy who was charged for murdering over 28 women. Ted Bundy became his own lawyer and defended himself before jury on the trials that occurred in Florida and Utah. Although his persuasion to the jury trial in Utah almost worked, he was eventually convicted of the crime charges and executed in the state of Florida.
The self-defense cases of Alton Coleman and Colin Ferguson were also notorious. They have been granted the privilege to represent themselves in court. However, the aftermath of their trials was still against them. Alton Coleman was sentenced to death and eventually executed. Meanwhile, Colin Ferguson was sentenced to six-year imprisonment.
The self-defense cases of Ted Bundy, Colin Ferguson and Alton Ferguson may be unbelievable however, it did happen. Information about their trials including their biography can be found in the Internet. Other notable self-defense cases involving self-representation and their stories can also be found on some Internet sites.
Self-defense cases can be complicated and time-consuming when people are involved on them. However, for many people they can be interested stories and attention-catching news.
