When directing a jury on self-defence under s 271 of the Criminal Code (Qld), the trial judge must not confine the jury's consideration to the period immediately before the defensive act. Previous threats and assaults forming part of a continuing course of events are relevant to the assessment of whether the accused reasonably apprehended death or grievous bodily harm. The fact that a complainant suffered grievous bodily harm or death does not of itself exclude the operation of s 271(1); the test is whether the force was 'likely' to cause such harm.
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