In defence of self-defence
(Liverpool, Nova Scotia)
In 1981 Jane Stafford shot her husband as he slept behind the wheel of his truck. She had her son load a twelve gage single shot with a shell (slug) and sent him back into the house before she executed him through the open drivers window. She then drove his vehicle and decapitated body 7 miles from the crime scene. Eventually she confessed to the crime. Also, evidence came forward she tried to hire a hit man prior to the murder and also attempted to acquire poison from the same "hitman" when he refused the $20,000 contract (he feared Billy).
During the trial the judge instructed the jury as follows regarding section 37 (Defence of self defence)
"You should understand that the law of self defence proceeds from necessity to preserve one`s life with instinctive and intuitive necessity. Under no circumstances may that defence be cloak for revenge or retaliation. If you have no reasonable doubt as to whether the accused acted in self defence as I`ve defined it, you will find the accused not guilty of murder or any other offense. Then the Crown will have failed to prove the homicide culpable, because homicide committed in self defence is not a culpable homicide.
One officer ( RCMP) said publically should have received a metal and the one who took her confession told her to go home and celebrate with the rest of the community.
Jane Stafford was found not quilty at the trial.