Understanding Missouri self-defense law can be hard without experienced legal help. The Law Offices of Brian J. Cooke can provide the information you need.
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The Duty to Retreat
While Missouri law generally follows a “Stand Your Ground” philosophy, it does maintain a duty to retreat in certain situations. This duty to retreat applies when a person is outside their home, vehicle, private property, or place they have a right to be and could safely avoid the threat by retreating or withdrawing from the situation. Failing to do so may undermine a claim of self-defense in a court of law. For example, if you are trespassing on the private property of another, you must retreat before resorting to the use of physical force to defend yourself. It is essential for individuals to assess the circumstances carefully and act in accordance with this requirement when applicable.
If someone cusses at you then walks away they are not an aggressor they are getting away from you. When you follow someone who is retreating from you YOU are the aggressor. You CAN NOT be the aggressor of a situation and claim self defense
Initial Aggressor
Missouri’s self-defense law also provides that an initial aggressor is not justified in using physical force to defend himself from the counterattack that he provoked. However, a person who is the initial aggressor in an encounter can regain the privilege of self-defense if he withdraws from the encounter and clearly indicates to the other person his desire to end the encounter. Then if the other person persists in continuing the conflict by threatening to use or by using lawful force, the first person is no longer the initial aggressor and he can lawfully use force to defend himself.