chance-medley

• Nom désignant un homicide involontaire commis dans un contexte de légitime défense ou de rixe, sans intention de tuer.

A noun referring to an unpremeditated killing of a human being in self-defense.

1. Unpremeditated killing in self-defenseC2formalbritishlegal

   The accidental or unintentional killing of a person while acting in self-defense, without prior planning or malice.

   Homicide involontaire en état de légitime défense

   • The court ruled the death a chance-medley, as the defendant acted only to protect himself.
   • In medieval law, chance-medley was distinguished from murder by the lack of premeditation.
   • The jury accepted the plea of chance-medley, recognizing the sudden threat the accused faced.