"victims who defend themselves against an attacker can be jailed for defending themselves."
Is this really true or is it an urban legend?
It seems hard to believe that if someone comes after you with a knife that you could be in trouble for fighting back.
Bernard Goetz in NY. I remember reading that some American tourist woman was given a stiff fine for pulling a penknife on some yuts who were threatening her a couple of years ago
""victims who defend themselves against an attacker can be jailed for defending themselves."
Is this really true or is it an urban legend?
It seems hard to believe that if someone comes after you with a knife that you could be in trouble for fighting back."
It's certainly an exageration. If you fought back against an attacker and, at some point, a jury decided that the force you used was disproportionate, then you could be found guilty of a crime. This is the guidelines used by the Criminal Prosecution Service if considering a prosecution:
http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/section13/chapter_t.html
"t is important to ensure that all those acting reasonably and in good faith to defend themselves, their family, their property or in the prevention of crime or the apprehension of offenders are not prosecuted for such action."