1. Display Imminent Danger:
- Document any prior threats, stalking, or harassment faced from the aggressor.
- Establish the presence of a weapon or the potential for serious bodily harm.
- Demonstrate the aggressor’s hostile actions or aggressive behavior leading up to the incident.
2. Reasonable Belief of Danger:
- Prove that you genuinely believed you were in imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm.
- Highlight any specific actions or circumstances that supported your fear.
- Show that your perception of danger was based on objective circumstances, not mere speculation.
3. Avoidance of Confrontation:
- Demonstrate that you took steps to avoid the confrontation or disengage from the situation.
- Show that you attempted to retreat or escape before resorting to self-defense.
- Explain why retreat was not a viable option due to the immediate threat.
4. Proportionality of Response:
- Prove that the force you used to defend yourself was reasonable and proportionate to the threat posed.
- Show that you used only the amount of force necessary to neutralize the threat.
- Explain why lesser means of self-defense were insufficient or unavailable.
5. Lack of Provocation:
- Demonstrate that you did not provoke the confrontation or initiate the violence.
- Show that you did not act out of anger, revenge, or aggression.
- Establish that your actions were solely intended to protect yourself from imminent harm.
6. Clear and Present Danger:
- Prove that the threat of harm was immediate and unavoidable at the time of your actions.
- Explain why waiting for law enforcement or other assistance was not a viable option.
- Demonstrate that you reasonably believed that using self-defense was the only way to prevent serious injury or death.
7. Absence of Malice:
- Show that you did not intend to cause excessive or unnecessary harm to the aggressor.
- Prove that your actions were motivated solely by the need to protect yourself, not by a desire to retaliate or inflict punishment.
- Explain why your actions were not fueled by anger, hatred, or ill will.
8. Prompt Reporting:
- Document that you promptly reported the incident to law enforcement or other appropriate authorities.
- Show that you cooperated with the investigation and provided accurate information.
- Explain why any delay in reporting was justified due to circumstances like shock, trauma, or medical treatment.
9. Expert Testimony:
- Seek the assistance of experts, such as self-defense instructors, forensic specialists, or psychologists, to provide testimony supporting your claim of self-defense.
- Present evidence of their qualifications and experience in assessing the reasonableness of your actions.
- Explain how their testimony aligns with the legal standards for self-defense.
10. Credible Witnesses:
- Identify witnesses who can corroborate your version of events and support your claim of self-defense.
- Prepare these witnesses to provide clear and consistent testimony about what they saw and heard during the incident.
- Address any potential inconsistencies in their statements and explain why they do not undermine the overall credibility of your self-defense claim.