Legal Question in Criminal Law in Pennsylvania

Self defense is an affirmative defense. That is I did what should be a crime but because I was defending myself I shouldn't be convicted and punished.

So now the DA burden isn't to prove you did the crime because an affirmative defense is an admission you committed the crime but had a motive that excuses the crime. What the DA has to prove is that you claim of self defense doesn't meet the definition required to excuse your actions.

So you're not looking at a mistrial. You'll looking at a conviction.

{John}