Runyan v. State

Summary

The court reversed Runyan's manslaughter conviction because the jury instructions imposed too stringent a duty to retreat before using deadly force in self-defense. It held that a person who is without fault and lawfully present may repel a violent assault without retreating, if he reasonably believes deadly force is necessary to protect his life or prevent great bodily harm. The court concluded that the evidence presented the question whether Runyan reasonably believed deadly force was necessary, not whether he had adequately retreated.