Connecticut Judicial Branch Jury Instructions- Criminal
PART 2: GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
2.8 JUSTIFICATION DEFENSES

2.8-1 Self-Defense and Defense of Others — § 53a-19

The evidence in this case raises the issue of (self-defense / the defense of others). (Self-defense / The defense of others) applies to the charge[s] of < insert applicable crimes> [and the lesser included offense[s] of < insert lesser included offenses>].

After you have considered all of the evidence in this case, if you find that the state has proved beyond a reasonable doubt each element of a crime to which (self-defense / defense of others) applies, you must go on to consider whether or not the defendant acted in (self-defense / the defense of others). In this case you must consider this defense in connection with count[s] of the information.

A person is justified in the use of force against another person that would otherwise be illegal if (he/she) is acting in the defense of (self / others). It is a complete defense to certain crimes, including < insert applicable crimes>. When, as in this case, evidence of (self-defense / the defense of others) is introduced at trial, the state must not only prove beyond a reasonable doubt all the elements of the crime charged to obtain a conviction, but must also disprove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant acted in (self-defense / the defense of others). If the state fails to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant acted in (self-defense / the defense of others), you must find the defendant not guilty despite the fact that you have found the elements of the crime proved beyond a reasonable doubt. The defendant has no burden of proof whatsoever with respect to this defense.

There is a statute that defines (self-defense / the defense of others) and you are to apply that definition in reviewing the evidence in this case and not apply any common or colloquial meaning that you may have heard before. The statute defining (self-defense / the defense of others) reads in pertinent part as follows:

a person is justified in using reasonable physical force upon another person to defend (himself/herself/a third person) from what (he/she) reasonably believes to be the use or imminent use of physical force, and (he/she) may use such degree of force which (he/she) reasonably believes to be necessary for such purpose.

The statute requires that, before a defendant uses physical force upon another person to defend (himself/herself/a third person), (he/she) must have two “reasonable beliefs.” The first is a reasonable belief that physical force is then being used or about to be used upon (him/her/a third person). The second is a reasonable belief that the degree of force (he/she) is using to defend (himself/herself/a third person) from what (he/she) believes to be an ongoing or imminent use of force is necessary for that purpose.

Deadly and non-deadly physical force

The law distinguishes non-deadly physical force from deadly physical force. “Physical force” means actual physical force or violence or superior physical strength. The term “deadly physical force” is defined by statute as physical force which can reasonably be expected to cause death or serious physical injury. Under this definition, the physical force used by the defendant need not actually have caused a death or a serious physical injury in order to be considered deadly physical force, nor need it have been expected or intended by the defendant to result in such serious consequences. Instead, what determines whether the defendant used deadly physical force is whether the force actually used by the defendant could reasonably have been expected to cause death or serious physical injury. “Physical injury” is defined by statute as impairment of physical condition or pain, and “serious physical injury” is defined as physical injury which creates a substantial risk of death, or which causes “serious disfigurement,” serious impairment of health or serious loss or impairment of the function of any bodily organ.

It is up to you to determine whether the defendant used deadly physical force or non-deadly physical force against < insert name of the other person>. You are to make that determination after considering all the evidence. If the state claims that the defendant used deadly physical force, the state must prove that beyond a reasonable doubt. The first question you must resolve, then, is whether the level of force used by the defendant rises to the level of deadly physical force, or is some lower degree of physical force.

Reasonable beliefs

Once you have determined whether the defendant has used deadly or non-deadly force, you must then go on to consider whether the defendant justifiably acted in (self-defense / defense of others).

Each of the reasonable belief requirements of the statute requires you to ask two questions. The first question you must ask is, did the defendant actually have the belief in question when (he/she) acted as (he/she) did. The second question you must ask is whether the defendant’s actual belief was reasonable, in the sense that a reasonable person in the defendant’s circumstances at the time of (his/her) actions, viewing those circumstances from the defendant’s point of view, would have shared that belief. A defendant cannot justifiably act on (his/her) actual belief, if that belief would not have been shared by a reasonable person in (his/her) circumstances, viewing those circumstances from the defendant’s point of view. Therefore, the defense of (self-defense / defense of others) has four elements:

Element 1 – Actual belief regarding use of physical force by other person

The first element is that when the defendant used defensive force against < insert name of other person>, (he/she) actually believed that the other person was using physical force against (him/her/< insert name of third person>) or that the use of physical force against (him/her) was imminent. The word “imminent” means that the person is about to use physical force at that time and not at some unspecified future time.

If you have found that the force used by the defendant was deadly physical force, then you must find that the defendant actually believed that < insert name of other person> was not only using or about to use physical force upon (him/her/< insert name of third person>), but that the other person was either using or about to use deadly physical force against (him/her/< insert name of third person>), or inflicting or about to inflict great bodily harm upon (him/her/< insert name of third person>). [“Great bodily harm” is not limited by the definition of serious physical injury and may encompass other acts such as sexual assault or the threat of sexual assault]. The term “great” has its ordinary meaning and indicates a bodily harm that is substantially more than minor or inconsequential harm.

The act of < insert name of other person> leading to the defendant’s use of defensive physical force need not be an actual threat or assault. The test is not what the other person actually intended, but what the other person’s act caused the defendant to believe was the intention of the other. In other words, the danger to which the defendant was reacting need not have been actual or real. In judging the danger to (himself/herself/< insert name of third person>), the defendant is not required to act with infallible judgment. A person acting in (self-defense / the defense of others) is sometimes required to act instantly and without time to deliberate and investigate. Under such circumstances it is possible to perceive an actual threat when none in fact existed.

Element 2 – Reasonableness of that belief

The second element is that the defendant’s actual belief about the force being used or about to be used against (him/her/< insert name of third person>) was a reasonable belief. This means that under the circumstances of the case, viewing those circumstances from the defendant’s point of view, the defendant’s actual belief that < insert name of other person> was using or about to use physical force or deadly physical force against (him/her/< insert name of third person>) was reasonable because a reasonable person in the defendant’s situation at the time of (his/her) actions, viewing the circumstances from the defendant’s point of view, would have shared that belief.

Element 3 – Actual belief regarding degree of force necessary

The third element is that when the defendant used physical force upon < insert name of other person> for the purpose of defending (himself/herself/< insert name of third person>), (he/she) actually believed that the degree of force (he/she) used was necessary for that purpose. This applies whether you have found that the defendant used deadly physical force or not. The question is whether the defendant believed that it was necessary to use the degree of force that (he/she) used to defend (himself/herself/< insert name of third person>) from the attack.

Element 4 – Reasonableness of that belief

The fourth element is that the defendant’s actual belief about the degree of force necessary to defend (himself/herself/< insert name of third person>) was a reasonable belief. This means that under the circumstances of the case, viewing those circumstances from the defendant’s point of view, the defendant’s actual belief that the degree of force used was necessary to defend (himself/herself/< insert name of third person>) was reasonable because a reasonable person in the defendant’s circumstances at the time of (his/her) actions, viewing those circumstances from the defendant’s point of view, would have shared that belief.

Exceptions

< Insert any applicable statutory disqualifications. See Exceptions to Justification: Provocation, Initial Aggressor, Combat by Agreement, Instruction 2.8-2 and Exceptions to Use of Deadly Physical Force: Duty to Retreat, Surrender Property, Comply with Demand, Instruction 2.8-3.>

The state’s burden

You must remember that the defendant has no burden of proof whatsoever with respect to the defense of (self-defense / the defense of others). Instead, it is the state that must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant did not act in (self-defense / the defense of others) if it is to prevail on its charge[s] of < insert applicable crimes>[, or of any of the lesser-included offenses on which you have been instructed]. To meet this burden, the state need not disprove all four of the elements of (self-defense / the defense of others). Instead, it can defeat the defense of (self-defense / the defense of others) by disproving any one of the four elements of self-defense beyond a reasonable doubt to your unanimous satisfaction.

[ <If any statutory disqualifications have been included:>

You must also find that the defendant did not act in (self-defense / defense of others), if you find that the state has proved beyond a reasonable doubt that < insert the statutory disqualifications upon which the jury has been instructed:>

– Provocation: the defendant provoked < insert name of decedent/complainant> into using physical force against (him/her).

– Initial aggressor: the defendant was the initial aggressor in the encounter.

– Combat by agreement: the physical encounter between the defendant and < insert name of other person> was a combat by agreement.

– Duty to retreat: the defendant had a duty to retreat from the physical encounter because (he/she) knew (he/she) could do so with complete safety.

– Surrender property: the defendant knew that (he/she) would not need to use physical force against < insert name of other person> if (he/she) surrendered property to < insert name of other person>.

– Comply with demand: the defendant knew that (he/she) would not need to use physical force against < insert name of other person> if (he/she) complied with the demand to < insert name of demand>.]

Conclusion

If you unanimously find that the state has failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt any of the elements of a crime to which (self-defense / defense of others) applies, you shall then find the defendant not guilty and not consider the defense.

If you unanimously find that all the elements of a crime to which (self-defense / defense of others) applies have been proved beyond a reasonable doubt, you shall then consider the defense of (self-defense / defense of others). If you unanimously find that the state has disproved beyond a reasonable doubt at least one of the elements of the defense [or has proved one of the statutory disqualifications], you must reject that defense and find the defendant guilty.

If, on the other hand, you unanimously find that the state has not disproved beyond a reasonable doubt at least one of the elements of the defense[, or has not proved one of the statutory disqualifications], then on the strength of that defense alone you must find the defendant not guilty despite the fact that you have found the elements of the crime proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

Commentary

“Although § 53a-19 provides for two separate, but related defenses — self-defense and defense of others — [the Supreme Court has] interpreted the provision consistently without regard to the specific type of claim asserted thereunder. . . . [B]ecause [the] court has had far fewer occasions to consider defense of others claims under § 53a-19, [the court] looks to [its] precedents concerning the application of this section to self-defense claims to [claims of defense of others].” State v. Bryan, 307 Conn. 823, 833-34 (2013).

If the evidence, if believed, is sufficient to raise “a reasonable doubt in the mind of a rational juror” as to whether the defendant acted in self-defense, then the defendant is entitled to a jury instruction on the defense. State v. Edwards, 234 Conn. 381, 390 (1995).

A defendant does not have to “admit that he intended to kill the victim to assert the justification of self-defense.” State v. Miller, 55 Conn. App. 298, 300 (1999), cert. denied, 252 Conn. 923 (2000). Furthermore, a defendant is permitted to present inconsistent defenses. Id., 301. Accordingly, a defendant is entitled to an instruction on the defense of self-defense if the evidence warrants it, even if the evidence would also support a claim of innocence because of an unintended or accidental shooting. Id.

“Self-defense is a valid defense to crimes based on reckless conduct as well as intentional conduct.” State v. Jones, 39 Conn. App. 563, 567 n.4 (1995); see also State v. Hall, 213 Conn. 579, 586 (1990); State v. King, 24 Conn. App. 586, 590-91, cert. denied, 219 Conn. 912 (1991).

As a matter of law, self-defense is not available as a defense to a charge of felony murder. State v. Amado, 254 Conn. 184, 197-202 (2000); State v. Burke, 254 Conn. 202, 205 (2000). This holding is “consistent with the purpose underlying felony murder, which is to punish those whose conduct brought about an unintended death in the commission or attempted commission of a felony. . . . The felony murder rule includes accidental, unintended deaths. Indeed, we have noted that crimes against the person like robbery, rape and common-law arson and burglary are, in common experience, likely to involve danger to life in the event of resistance by the victim. . . . Accordingly, when one kills in the commission of a felony, that person cannot claim self-defense, for this would be fundamentally inconsistent with the very purpose of the felony murder [statute].” (Citations omitted; internal quotation marks omitted.) State v. Amado, supra, 254 Conn. 201.

Self-defense is not applicable to “status offenses,” such as carrying a dangerous weapon; State v. Holloway, 11 Conn. App. 665, 771 (1987); or carrying a pistol without a permit. State v. Bailey, 209 Conn. 322, 238 (1988). But see State v. Ramos, 271 Conn. 785, 803 (2004) (“when the item that the defendant is charged with having in the vehicle is an otherwise legal item and did not become a dangerous instrument within the meaning of § 29-38 until it was used in self-defense, the defendant may raise § 53a-19 as a defense”).

When a defendant is charged with multiple offenses, only some of which self-defense may apply to, the instruction must clearly state that self-defense does not apply to all of the offenses. State v. Davis, 261 Conn. 553, 573 (2002) (self-defense did not apply to charge of interference with an officer, but would apply to assault charges arising out of the same conduct); State v. Wright, 77 Conn. App. 80, 86-87, cert. denied, 266 Conn. 913 (2003) (self-defense did not apply to count charging defendant as accessory).

Whether a person claiming defense of a third party has a duty to retreat depends on whether the person being defended has a duty to retreat. State v. Rodriguez, 47 Conn. App. 91, 96, cert. denied, 243 Conn. 960 (1997).

 

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