Criminal Law. “Assailant means one who assails or who assaults; the aggressor.” Scales v. State, 96 Ala. 69 (1892).
“The killing of an assailant is excusable on the ground of self-defense only when it is, or reasonably appears to be, the only means of saving one’s own life or preventing great bodily injury; and, if the danger can be avoided by retreat or otherwise, the killing is not excusable.” State v. Warner, 100 Iowa 260 (1896).