Opinion ID: 1955198
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Perfect Self-Defense

Text: Homicide committed in perfect self-defense is either justifiable or excusable. [3] When the defense is established, the killer is not culpable. Perfect self-defense operates as a complete defense to either murder or manslaughter. A successful [perfect] self-defense, therefore, results in the acquittal of the defendant. State v. Faulkner, 301 Md. 482, 485, 483 A.2d 759 (1984). In Faulkner, Judge Cole, writing for the Court, set out the requirements for a person to be found not culpable when acting in perfect self-defense in committing a homicide: (1) The accused must have had reasonable grounds to believe himself in apparent imminent or immediate danger of death or serious bodily harm from his assailant or potential assailant; (2) The accused must have in fact believed himself in this danger; (3) The accused claiming the right of self-defense must not have been the aggressor or provoked the conflict; and (4) The force used must have not been unreasonable and excessive, that is, the force must not have been more force than the exigency demanded. Id. at 485-486, 483 A.2d 759. See cases cited therein at 486, 483 A.2d 759.