If death were to result from such acts, it would result accidentally. Because death does not characteristically result from the ingenious deployment of teeth, nails, knees, elbows, and fists, one's attacker could not charge one with endangering his life by so defending oneself. If one were to use a sword, however, the attacker could claim that his life had been endangered. This is significant for two reasons. First, although the one defending himself by means of a sword may not intend to take the life of the aggressor, he is willing to risk taking the aggressor's life.
Accidental homicide differs from homicide which results from having endangered life.
In an accidental killing, the agent inculpably does not foresee the death. When death results from having knowingly endangered someone's life, however, the agent foresaw the death as a possible consequence of his action. Thus, killing someone accidentally importantly differs from killing someone whose life one has knowingly endangered. When one intends to take another's life, one certainly endangers his life. Indeed, being the object of someone's intention to kill is probably the most extreme case of having one's life endangered.