CO · jury_instructions
COLJI-Crim. H:16
USE OF NON-DEADLY PHYSICAL FORCE (DEFENSE OF PREMISES)
The evidence presented in this case has raised the affirmative defense
of “physical force in defense of premises,” as a defense to [insert name(s) of
offense(s)].
The defendant was legally authorized to use physical force upon
another person if:
1. he [she] was in possession or control of any building, realty, or
other premises, [or was a person licensed or privileged to be
there,] and
2. he [she] used reasonable and appropriate physical force, when
and to the extent it was reasonably necessary to prevent or
terminate what he [she] reasonably believed was the
commission or attempted commission of an unlawful trespass
by the other person in or upon the building, realty, or premises.
The prosecution has the burden to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt,
that the defendant’s conduct was not legally authorized by this defense. In
order to meet this burden of proof, the prosecution must disprove, beyond
a reasonable doubt, at least one of the above numbered conditions.
After considering all the evidence, if you decide the prosecution has
failed to meet this burden of proof, then the prosecution has failed to prove
the defendant’s conduct was not legally authorized by this defense, which
is an essential element of [insert name(s) of offense(s)]. In that event, you
must return a verdict of not guilty of [that] [those] offense[s].
After considering all the evidence, if you decide the prosecution has
met this burden of proof, then the prosecution has proved the defendant’s
conduct was not legally authorized by this defense. In that event, your
verdict[s] concerning the charge[s] of [insert name(s) of offense(s)] must
depend upon your determination whether the prosecution has met its
burden of proof with respect to the remaining elements of [that] [those]
offense[s].
History
COLJI-Crim. (2025), Colorado Supreme Court Model Criminal Jury Instructions Committee. The committee's page: "The 2025 edition was published online on February 25, 2026." © 2025 Supreme Court of Colorado for the State of Colorado.
Provenance
- Source
- www.coloradojudicial.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-24
- Edition
- crim-2026-02-25
- Content hash
c3fcb3e1e826e250af02f570d41d541db3e7478184a4e71d434deddf863c6e6c
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