A domestic dispute can quickly become heated, leading to a harsh exchange of words, maybe some shoving, and, in the worst cases, physical strikes.
In instances involving physical aggression, the police are probably going to be called, which means that you could end up facing allegations of criminal wrongdoing. If that happens, how are you going to defend yourself?
Arguing self-defense in a Texas criminal case
If you’ve been accused of a violent crime, including those involving domestic violence, then you might be able to argue self-defense. Under Texas law, you can use force to protect yourself If you reasonably believe that doing so is necessary.
The details are important in this law.
The force being used against you must be unlawful in nature before you can argue that you acted in self-defense. Also, you’ll have to show that you used the minimal amount of force possible to repel the attack and that you reasonably believed that the use of force was necessary.
What are the limitations?
There are limitations on the use of the of self-defense, too. For example, you can’t successfully argue self-defense if you were the initial aggressor in the dispute.
Also, self-defense isn’t available to you if you were involved in a crime at the time of the event in question. So, as you prepare your defense, you’ll need to understand the law and how it applies to your unique set of circumstances.
Do you need help building your case?
There can be a lot of challenges when raising self-defense in a violent crime case. That’s why you might be best off discussing your circumstances with an attorney who can help you assess your situation and craft the compelling legal arguments that you need on your side. Hopefully, you can avoid the harsh penalties being threatened by prosecutors and can get back to life as you know it.
