Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Crimes Act 1958 - SECT 9AC

Murder-"self-defence"

9AC. Murder-"self-defence"

A person is not guilty of murder if he or she carries out the conduct that
would otherwise constitute murder while believing the conduct to be necessary
to defend himself or herself or another person from the infliction of death or
really serious injury. Notes 1. See section 4 for alternative verdict of
defensive homicide where the accused had no reasonable grounds for the belief.
2. This section does not apply where the response is to lawful conduct-see
section 9AF. 3. See section 9AH as to belief in circumstances where family
violence is alleged.