What is the difference between self-defense and justifiable homicide?

Self-defense and justifiable homicide are two different legal concepts under the Violent Crimes Laws in New York. Self-defense is a criminal defense that a person can use in a court of law to justify why they committed an act of violence. A successful self-defense argument will establish that the person acted in an effort to prevent an immediate and significant threat of physical harm. On the other hand, justifiable homicide is a type of homicide which is deemed lawful, meaning it does not constitute a criminal offense. Justifiable homicide occurs when a person kills another in order to protect themselves or another from the threat of imminent death or serious physical harm. Self-defense is a valid defense for a criminal charge and can be used to mitigate the penalty or potentially even result in an acquittal. It can also be used as a legal defense against civil suits brought by the victim. Justifiable homicide, on the other hand, is not a defense to a criminal charge but simply removes the criminal liability for the homicide. In other words, while self-defense can be used to excuse a homicide, justifiable homicide does not excuse the act of killing, but classifies the act as legally acceptable.

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What is the difference between self-defense and justifiable homicide?

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