05/27/2026
If you're in Maryland and believe you acted in self-defense after being charged with a crime, then you must have met these four criteria before you can claim it:
1. You were not the aggressor. It is okay if you were the initial aggressor, such as starting an argument. But you must not be the one who escalated the situation.
2. You actually believed that you were in immediate and imminent danger of bodily harm, and that your belief is reasonable.
3. You used no more force than was reasonably necessary to defend yourself in light of the threat or actual harm.
4. The absence of one of the factors above may show the Judge or jury that you did not necessarily act in self-defense.
All factors must be present. To determine that you had the right to use deadly force, you must show that there was an immediate and imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm, as well as: -You made a reasonable effort to retreat from the situation -You were in your home -You were being robbed -You did not know how to escape, or it was unsafe to retreatShare this post with someone who may need help from the Law Office of Charles L. Fuller.
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