South Carolina Requests to Charge – Criminal
PART VI DEFENSES

§ 6-18 Self-Defense – Bad Blood

There has been evidence in this case regarding bad blood or ill feelings between the parties. If there is bad blood existing between two citizens, and there have been antecedent threats between them, that would not give either one of them in itself the right to injure the other.

If there are ill feelings between you and me–if you had received word that I expected to injure you–the effect would be you would have a right to judge more harshly my conduct than you would otherwise. If we are friends, and I happen to meet you on the street, and I put my hand in my pocket to get my pocket knife with no bad intent, ordinarily you would not be justified in concluding I was trying to get a weapon out with which to kill you or to do you serious bodily harm. If there is a violent feeling between us, and I put my hand in my pocket to get something, you would be justified in interpreting that act of mine more harshly than in the case of friends. If you receive threats of harm, and you meet the person who made them, you can judge more harshly in determining whether there is any necessity to act in defense of your safety.

It is for you to judge under all the facts whether the State has proven the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

 

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