Se Defendendo Law and Legal Definition
Se defendendo is a Latin term meaning ‘self-defense.’ Homicide se defendendo refers to homicide in defense of a man's own life. It is a form of excusable homicide.
Homicide se defendendo is the killing of another person in the necessary defense of himself against one who assaults him/her. Regularly it is necessary that the person who kills another in his/her own defense fly as far as s/he may to avoid the violence of the assault before s/he turn upon his/her assailant. When a thief assaults a true man either abroad or in his/her house to rob or kill him/her, the true man is not bound to give back, but may kill the assailant, and it is not felony. [Erwin v. State, 29 Ohio St. 186 (Ohio 1876)]
