Penal Code section 198

A bare fear of the commission of any of the offenses mentioned in subdivisions 2 and 3 of Section 197, to prevent which homicide may be lawfully committed, is not sufficient to justify it. But the circumstances must be sufficient to excite the fears of a reasonable person, and the party killing must have acted under the influence of such fears alone.

Source: Section 198, https://leginfo.­legislature.­ca.­gov/faces/codes_displaySection.­xhtml?lawCode=PEN§ionNum=198.­ (updated Jan. 1, 1987; accessed Jun. 25, 2025).

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Verified:
Jun. 25, 2025

§ 198's source at ca​.gov