Posted: May 19th, 2017

Jackson had a flock of plastic garden flamingos in his front yard. Last night at about 1:35 a.m., Jackson saw a man enter his yard with a large wrench and start twisting the head off one of the flamingos. Jackson grabbed a kitchen knife “just in case,” and went outside yelling “Get out of here!” As the man turned to leave, Jackson continued toward him, waving the knife. The man stopped, held his ground and then raised the wrench over his head, saying: “What do you think you’re going to do with that knife?” Once Jackson was close enough, he slashed at the intruder and now he’s accused of attempted murder

Jackson had a flock of plastic garden flamingos in his front yard. Last night at about 1:35 a.m., Jackson saw a man enter his yard with a large wrench and start twisting the head off one of the flamingos. Jackson grabbed a kitchen knife “just in case,” and went outside yelling “Get out of here!” As the man turned to leave, Jackson continued toward him, waving the knife. The man stopped, held his ground and then raised the wrench over his head, saying: “What do you think you’re going to do with that knife?” Once Jackson was close enough, he slashed at the intruder and now he’s accused of attempted murder. a. If Jackson claims self-defense, there would be sufficient evidence for the jury to find that Jackson was the initial aggressor. b. Since Jackson was defending his property, he does not need to try to prove self-defense because his acts would be considered legally justified anyway. c. There is no way that Jackson could be treated as the initial aggressor since the intruder “started it” by entering and vandalizing his property. d. None of the above. In most states today, force may not be used to defend property