Reply #24: Without further info it is hard to say but I would be looking to see [View All]

[kelly1mm]

if the garage was attached to the house or detached. If attached that would make a self defense (force including deadly force authorized) argument stronger as opposed to defense of property (no use of force authorized). Also would have to know what perp did to accost the student (reasonable fear of safety) and what happened after the hand was severed - was it minutes later he finished him off or was the perp trashing around on the ground in pain when the student did the final deed. Thats what the State's Attorney is looking at.

My opinion is that sometimes when you are robbing people they fight back. Occupational hazard and assumption of the risk.