Beckford v R

Facts

Beckford, an armed police officer in Jamaica, shot and killed a man. He said he believed the man was armed and about to shoot. The trial judge directed the jury in terms that confined self-defence more narrowly than the common law.

Issue

Must a person wait to be attacked, and must his belief be correct?

Held

The Privy Council held that self-defence is a justification. A person about to be attacked need not wait for the first blow. Circumstances may justify a pre-emptive strike. An honest belief in the facts that would justify force is enough.

Principle

Private defence can be used before the attack lands, and it is a general defence, not confined to completed crimes of violence.

Why it matters

Read it with Julien, and with the Sierra Leone retreat rule, which is stricter on withdrawal.

For study only. By lanbuk.com. Always check current sources and consult a qualified professional.