State v. Betts

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF KANSAS No. 122,268 STATE OF KANSAS, Appellant, v. DEXTER BETTS, Appellee. SYLLABUS BY THE COURT K.S.A. 2021 Supp. 21-5231(a) permits a criminal defendant in certain cases to claim self-defense immunity from prosecution for the justified use of deadly force. This statutory immunity is confined to circumstances when the use of such force is against a person or thing reasonably believed to be an aggressor. The statute does not extend immunity for reckless acts resulting in unintended injury to innocent bystanders while the defendant engaged in self-defense…