I suspect that if you shot the man in a similar circumstance you would be charged, and who know what would happen with the jury?
If I were on the jury I would be hard pressed to consider that the older man with the cane was a deadly threat. You would have to prove that you had a legitimate fear of death or great bodily harm and that you were not able to avoid an attack.
If the person had to use a cane he would, by assumption, be handicapped to the extent he could not pursue or out-maneuver you. If you saw him before he actually attacked you I would assume that you should be able to avoid being hurt badly enough to justify deadly force.
Regards,
Jerry
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Ecclesiastes 12:13 ¶Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
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