Criminal Jury Instructions for the District of Columbia
VI. Defenses Scope
E. Self-Defense, Defense of Others, Defense of Property, Claim of Right

Instruction 9.502 SELF-DEFENSE—AMOUNT OF FORCE PERMISSIBLE WHERE APPEARANCES ARE FALSE

A. NONDEADLY FORCE

If [name of defendant] actually and reasonably believes it is necessary to use force to prevent imminent bodily harm to himself/herself, s/he may use a reasonable amount of force even though afterwards it turns out that the appearances were false.

B. DEADLY FORCE

If [name of defendant] actually and reasonably believes that s/he is in imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm and that deadly force is necessary to repel such danger, s/he may use deadly force in self-defense. S/he may do so even though afterwards it turns out that the appearances were false because either [name of defendant] was not actually in imminent danger or deadly force was not necessary.

 

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