Article 44 of the Criminal Code:

“It shall not constitute a criminal offence the action took by a defendant in a situation of self-defence. Self-defence is justified when a person accused of assaulting or murdering someone took these actions in order to protect herself against physical, direct, immanent and unjust attack against herself, another person or against a community, and which could have seriously endangered herself, another person or the community. Self-defence is also justified in situations in which a person in extreme fear exceeds the degree of violence proportionate to the threat faced.”

Law no 169 of April 10, 2002, amending and supplementing the Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code, states with regard to self-defence legislation:

“No one shall be held guilty of any criminal offence on account of any act committed against a person who trespassed into his house, room or outhouse.”

• If somebody attacks you first
• If self-defence is directed against an aggressor
• When it is necessary in order to remove the attack
• When you don’t use more force than is reasonably necessary to avoid further injury