Anonymous asked this question on 3/10/2000:

In dock law, were doing mach trials, and I'm a lawyer on the defense of Bernhard H. Goetz. Do any of you Know how I could play the self defense card (using the fact that he had two prior muggings and was a scawny little man) and the laws involved? email me @ baby_bare_8@yahoo.com. Thanks!!!

flightofpain gave this response on 3/19/2000:

I'm afraid self-defense as a defense for Goetz is not going to be easy. Remember he was using an illegal weapon at the time he shot those young men. At least one of them was shot in the back, and that sure doesn't sound like self defense to me. You might want to try the defense of innocent by reason of insanity based on the fact that since he had been mugged before, when these young men approached him he was so frightened that he became temporarily insane. It probably won't fly though since he already had that gun. This is a hard one, best of luck---let us know (the "experts") how your mock trial goes. flightofpain