CT - full article at link.
In Wake of Zimmerman Acquittal, Legislators Plan To Scrutinize Laws
PATRICK R. LINSEY
07/26/2013
http://m.ctlawtribune.com/module/alm...cle/1060124038
In the wake of George Zimmerman's acquittal of murder charges in Florida, Connecticut legislators plan to scrutinize their own state laws, including that concerning the use of deadly force in self defense, for racial bias.
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"We have a pretty strong self-defense statute and it's very fact-specific," said Jack Daly, police chief in Southington and president of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, who sees no reason to change the current law. "Basically a citizen has to make an attempt to get away, to get to an area of safety. Citizens have to make a reasonable effort to get away before they [can] use deadly force."
There are exceptions. According to the 2012 report, Connecticut is one of 46 states that incorporates the "Castle Doctrine" into its self-defense laws, with "castle" being a metaphor for a person's home. In Connecticut, General Statute Sec. 53a-19 does not require a person using deadly force to retreat if that person is in his or her residence. The law also allows persons to use deadly force in the workplace without retreating if they were not the initial aggressor.
According to the report, courts have interpreted state law as permitting the use of deadly force by a person who is privileged to be on the premises and who "reasonably believes [such force] is necessary to prevent an attempt by the [criminal] trespasser to commit arson or any crime of violence." ( State v. Garrison, 203 Conn. 466, 472, (1987))."
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