If you are facing charges for assault, you may believe that you did nothing wrong. This does not mean that there was no altercation between you and the other party. You simply believe that your role in that altercation was justified.
In a situation like this, people will often claim that they were just acting in self-defense. Legally speaking, you do have a right to defend yourself or others. When would this apply to your case?
Was the other person the aggressor?
If you claim self-defense, you are essentially claiming that the other person was the aggressor and that you had no choice but to defend yourself. They were attempting to assault you, and you just did what was necessary to keep yourself safe.
You do have to show that you had a valid fear that you were going to suffer harm, even if you ultimately did not end up getting hurt. You may also be able to use self-defense if you were defending someone else, such as your children or your spouse, and you believed they were in imminent danger.
Finally, you typically need to be in a location where you are legally allowed to be. If you entered someone else’s home without permission, for example, you could not claim self-defense, even if they attacked you, believing you to be a home intruder. But if someone else entered your home, then you are allowed to defend yourself, your property and your family.
Assault charges are very serious and can carry serious ramifications. It is crucial that you understand all of your defense options. Getting legal guidance can help you protect your rights.