Justifiable homicide is best described as that moment when an agressor becomes

1. an imminent threat to the life of an innocent person or

2. an imminent threat of severe bodily harm (meaning crippling injury) to that innocent party.  

3. under Justifiable homicide the threat

   1. Must be imminent (Some States use immediate)

   2. The use of deadly force must be in the defense of life not property  

   3. The use of deadly force as a defense is only for the innocent party and not the aggressor.  

   4. Level of Force the Harm or risk you faced was another Deadly Force  

   5. The burden of proof is always upon the person that used deadly force to show his actions were reasonable and that he had a reasonable fear.   

   6. In Kentucky there is no duty to retreat. 

At that moment the citizen by operation of law is justified and excused from the criminal liability and in Kentucky the civil liability for using deadly force.  This requires that the citizen does not use force in anger but instead is defending himself or an innocent party.  Until that moment even the display of the weapon may cause a conviction for wanton endangerment, terroristic threatening or worse.  

Every situation is different this is for information only and this is not legal advice.