Tennessee § 39-11-612 - Defense of third person.

§ 39-11-612. Defense of third person.

A person is justified in threatening or using force against another to protect a third person, if: Under the circumstances as the person reasonably believes them to be, the person would be justified under § 39-11-611 in threatening or using force to protect against the use or attempted use of unlawful force reasonably believed to be threatening the third person sought to be protected; and The person reasonably believes that the intervention is immediately necessary to protect the third person. Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 1. Sentencing Commission Comments. This section makes it clear the right to defend a third person is to be determined in the same fashion as the right of self defense. Section 39-11-611 governs the determination of whether a defendant would have been justified in using force in self-defense under the same facts and circumstances. If the defendant reasonably believes that intervention is immediately necessary to protect the third person, the defendant is justified in the same manner as he or she would have been under § 39-11-611 . Compiler's Notes. The sentencing commission terminated June 30, 1995. Sentencing Commission Comments have been retained, but do not reflect 1995 or subsequent legislation.