Under what circumstance can a defendant use deadly force in self-defense?

The correct answer is based on the principles of self-defense, which allow for the use of deadly force when an individual has a reasonable belief that they are facing imminent serious harm, such as severe bodily injury, death, or sexual assault. The key term here is "reasonable belief," which indicates that the perception of threat must be grounded in the circumstances surrounding the encounter.

In cases involving self-defense, the justification for using deadly force is strictly limited to scenarios where the defender has a genuine and immediate fear for their life or safety. This ensures that the response is proportional to the threat faced—deadly force is justified only in extreme situations where no lesser means of protection would be adequate.

Other options do not meet the legal criteria for justifiable deadly force. For instance, a minor threat does not warrant such a severe response, as self-defense principles dictate that the response must align with the level of threat posed. Similarly, feelings of being threatened without specific, imminent, and serious danger do not justify the use of deadly force. Lastly, merely believing someone is capable of using force does not itself justify the use of deadly force unless there is also a reasonable belief of imminent serious harm.