§ 12.1-05-07.1 — Use of deadly force - Presumption of fear of death or serious bodily injury

North Dakota § 12.1-05-07.1

• Jurisdiction: North Dakota
• Title 12.1: Criminal Code
• Ch. 12.1-05: Justification - Excuse - Affirmative Defenses

Text

injury.
1. An individual is presumed to have held a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or
serious bodily injury to that individual or another when using deadly force if:
a. The individual against whom the deadly force was used was in the process of
unlawfully and forcibly entering, or had unlawfully and forcibly entered and
remains within a dwelling, place of work, or occupied motor home or travel trailer
as defined in section 39-01-01, or if the individual had removed or was attempting
to remove another against that individual's will from the dwelling, place of work, or
occupied motor home or travel trailer as defined in section 39-01-01; and
b. The individual who uses deadly force knew or had reason to believe that an
unlawful and forcible entry or unlawful and forcible act was occurring or had
occurred.
2. The presumption in subsection 1 may be rebutted by proof beyond a reasonable doubt
that the individual who used the deadly force did not have a reasonable fear of
imminent peril of death or serious bodily injury to that individual or another.
3. The presumption in subsection 1 does not apply if the court finds that any of the
following have occurred:
a. The individual against whom the deadly force is used has the right to be in or is a
lawful resident of the dwelling, place of work, or occupied motor home or travel
trailer as defined in section 39-01-01, including an owner, lessee, or titleholder,
and there is not a temporary or permanent domestic violence protection order or
any other order of no contact against that individual;
b. The individual removed or sought to be removed is a child or grandchild, or is
otherwise in the lawful custody or under the lawful guardianship of, the individual
against whom the deadly force is used;
c. The individual who uses deadly force is engaged in the commission of a crime or
is using the dwelling, place of work, or occupied motor home or travel trailer as
defined in section 39-01-01 to further the commission of a crime; or
d. The individual against whom the deadly force is used is a law enforcement officer
who enters or attempts to enter a dwelling, place of work, or occupied motor
home or travel trailer as defined in section 39-01-01 in the performance of official
duties and the officer provided identification, if required, in accordance with any
applicable law or warrant from a court, or if the individual using force knew or
reasonably should have known that the individual entering or attempting to enter
was a law enforcement officer.