Question

While in a department store, a man picked up a sweater and slipped it under his shirt. The man then started for the door. A woman, who also was shopping in the store, saw the man take the sweater. The woman grabbed a baseball bat from the sporting goods aisle and chased the man into the parking lot. The woman began swinging the bat at the man's head, hoping to knock him out and thus prevent the theft. The man pulled a knife from his pocket and stabbed the woman, killing her. The man was arrested and charged with murder. At trial, will the man most likely be found guilty

Answer 1

Answer:

D). No, because the man was acting in self-defense.

Explanation:

In the given situation, the man would not be considered guilty of murdering the woman and this is because the action took place when was defending himself from the attacks made by that woman on him. However, the man was attempting to steal the sweater at the store yet the deadly attack made by the woman on his head with the baseball bat cannot be justified in any case. Her act would be categorized under 'dangerous felony' and therefore, the use of a knife by the man was enforced on him to save himself. Hence, the action was in 'self-defense' and he will not be punished for it as it was the woman who initiated the physical violence and harm and he just reacted. Thus, option D is the correct answer.