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If it doesn't recognise self defence then why were the lawyers playing the self defence angle through the courts in the trial
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They weren't. They tried to get him of murder with intent, but he would still be faced with charges of involuntary killing. It's just that reporters here watch Boston Legal and think that's how our legal system works. The only way you walk off of the jury finds you not guilty on all charges, there's no legal get out of jail because you defended yourself card. You don't go if you prove you were trying to save yourself.
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That is also a common problem with self defence laws as they stand.
Do you recall that crazy coot in the States who decided defence of property meant he could shoot some kid in the street because someone had walked on his lawn?
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I heard of many. And for even more trivial things. Some crazy old bugger in our village stabed the pizza delivery man about 10 years ago because he thought he's here to rob him (pizza was ordered by his grandson who lived in teh same house). He survived, some stiches to his hand. The old man was taken to an institution and found in sane mind, just paranoid.