If killing out of self-defense is "legal" then why are people still persecuted for it? Also why are people not

Why is it supposedly legal to kill someone out of self-defense, yet when someone does it they still face sentencing, court hearings, and almost always jail time? And I know there are varying definitions of "self-defense," but I mean like even if someone goes to court and it is proven legally that they killed someone out of self defense then they are still in trouble. So why? Also, why do people get in trouble for killing other innocent people, yet hunters/butchers kill innocent animals all the time and nothing is ever said? Some people may argue that hunting keeps the population of animals in check, but this is an invalid argument since animals die naturally at an even faster rate than humans and there are a lot less of any given animal than there are humans in the world.

1. The pre-meditated killing of a human being is murder, not self-defense.

2. Hunters/butchers generally don't kill human beings, but if they do, refer back to point #1.

Self Defense Legal Definition

Self Defense Legal Definition

In California, what is the legal definition of Self Defense?

Thanks
Thanks to both of you for your answers. I'll have to flip a coin for best

Self-defense is based upon "justification" for the suspect's assaulting the victim; i.e., the suspect was reasonably apprehensive that the victim was going to assault him, so the suspect had to defend himself.

Elements to be considered include:

- The Condition of the Victim
- The Condition of the Suspect
- The Suspect's Fear
- History of Combatants

And from Nolo Press:

(Self Defense is ...) An affirmative defense to a crime. Self-defense is the use of reasonable force to protect oneself from an aggressor. Self-defense shields a person from criminal liability for the harm inflicted on the aggressor. For example, a robbery victim who takes the robber's weapon and uses it against the robber during a struggle won't be liable for assault and battery since he can show that his action was reasonably necessary to protect himself from imminent harm.

- Carl

Self Defense Legal Definition
MOV04071 /Tactical Folder Spring Assisted Opening / Black By TIGER USA,(REVIEW)

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