People v. La Voie, Supreme Court of Colorado, 395 P.2d 1001 (1964), is a legal case in which deadly force was justified because the defendant had a reasonable belief that the deceased threatened defendant with deadly or grievous harm. [1]
Charles E. La Voie was returning home from work in Jefferson County when his car was intentionally rammed and pushed through a red light. After the car came to a stop, four men got out of the instigating car and began approaching Mr. La Voie in a menacing manner. He shot the man closest to him who died at the scene.
The case is illustrative of the legal concept of a perfect self-defense. [1] The court wrote (citing a previous ruling in Young v. People, 47 Colo. 352):
People v. La Voie, Supreme Court of Colorado, 395 P.2d 1001 (1964), is a legal case in which deadly force was justified because the defendant had a reasonable belief that the deceased threatened defendant with deadly or grievous harm. [1]
Charles E. La Voie was returning home from work in Jefferson County when his car was intentionally rammed and pushed through a red light. After the car came to a stop, four men got out of the instigating car and began approaching Mr. La Voie in a menacing manner. He shot the man closest to him who died at the scene.
The case is illustrative of the legal concept of a perfect self-defense. [1] The court wrote (citing a previous ruling in Young v. People, 47 Colo. 352):