r v beckford
Force is necessary if D believes there is an imminent threat.
D may also use pre-emptive strikes against an imminent threat.
R v (Gladstone) Williams
D may make an honest mistake a threat being imminent and still have a defence.
R v O’Grady
If D makes a drunken mistake about whether there is an imminent threat, he will not have a defence.
R v Bird
There is no obligation to retreat, but if D fails to retreat when they could, this may suggest force was not necessary.
76(3) Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008
Whether force is reasonable must be judged on the circumstances that D believed existed at the time.
S76(7)(a)
D is not expected to weigh up exactly how much force is reasonable in the heat of the moment
S76(7)(b)
If D ONLY does what they honestly and instinctively thought was necessary, this is good evidence they have acted reasonable
R v Hussain/ R v Martin
Using excessive force or acting in revenge is NOT self- defence
S76(5A)
In householder cases, use of force is only unreasonable if it is grossly disproportionate to the threat faced