Virginia Model Jury Instruction (2013)

52.500 Self-Defense–Defendant Without Fault

If you believe that the defendant was without fault in provoking or bringing on the [fight; difficulty], and you further believe that:

(1) he reasonably feared, under the circumstances as they appeared to him, that he was in imminent danger of bodily harm; and

(2) he used no more force, under the circumstances as they appeared to him, than was reasonably necessary to protect himself from the perceived harm,

then he acted in self-defense, and you shall find the defendant not guilty.