PART I
GENERAL PART
BOOK I
CRIMES AND CRIMINALS
TITLE III
CONDITIONS OF LIABILITY TO PUNISHMENT IN RESPECT OF CRIMES
CHAPTER II
CRIMINAL GUILT
Section II.- Lawful Acts, Justifiable Acts and Excuses
Sub-section II.- Justifiable Acts and Excuses
Article 78.- Legitimate Defence
An act done in self-defence or the defence of another person against an unlawful attack or an imminent and unlawful attack against a legally protected right shall not be punishable if the attack or imminent attack could not have been otherwise averted and if the defence was proportionate to the needs of the case .
PART I
GENERAL PART
BOOK I
CRIMES AND CRIMINALS
TITLE III
CONDITIONS OF LIABILITY TO PUNISHMENT IN RESPECT OF CRIMES
CHAPTER II
CRIMINAL GUILT
Section II.- Lawful Acts, Justifiable Acts and Excuses
Sub-section II.- Justifiable Acts and Excuses
Article 79.- Excess in Legitimate Defence.
(1) When a person in repelling an unlawful attack or an imminent and unlawful attack exceeded the limits of legitimate defence by using disproportionate means or going beyond the acts necessary for averting the danger, the Court shall, without restriction, reduce the penalty (Art. 180).
(2) The Court may impose no punishment when the excess committed was due to excusable fear, surprise or excitement caused by the attack .
1. Sin perjuicio de las demás circunstancias eximentes de responsabilidad penal establecidas en el presente Estatuto, no será penalmente responsable quien, en el momento de incurrir en una conducta:
(c) Actuare razonablemente en defensa propia o de un tercero o, en el caso de los crímenes de guerra, de un bien que fuese esencial para su supervivencia o la de un tercero o de un bien que fuese esencial para realizar una misión militar, contra un uso inminente e ilícito de la fuerza, en forma proporcional al grado de peligro para él, un tercero o los bienes protegidos. El hecho de participar en una fuerza que realizare una operación de defensa no bastará para constituir una circunstancia eximente de la responsabilidad penal de conformidad con el presente apartado;