Video: The Legal Ins And Outs Of The Castle Doctrine

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)—The Castle Doctrine can seem simple but can be complicated in the courtroom.

It’s back in the forefront after Deondra Deshawn Tillman of Columbus was stabbed to death after breaking into a home this past weekend.

For Mississippians, protecting ourselves is high on the list of priorities.

“The normal standards we have in self defense, Which is someone is attacking you and your in fear of great bodily injury or death, that’s relaxed when they are breaking inside your home,”Private Practice Lawyer Carrie Jourdan.

It’s called the Castle Doctrine and  Jourdan says It’s designed to protect the legal rights of home owners to protect their property.

” An individual is allowed to defend their home with deadly force, their person, their home. What that means is you as a home owner if there is an intruder in your home you can use deadly force to repel that intruder,”said Jourdan.

Saturday night’s specific case, Deondra Deshawn Tillman attempted to rob a home but was stabbed to death. District Attorney Scott Colom says his office is preparing for the next steps.

“Once there is any type of killing of a human being those types of cases go before a grand jury. Police will investigate and get all the information they can and once they are done with the investigation they will present it to my office and we will present it to the grand jury and they will determine if there is evidence of a murder or whether it was self defense,” said District Attorney Scott Colom.

Jourdan says The Castle Doctrine isn’t limited to just the inside of the house it can extend to the yard, garage or shed but protecting the outside of a house legally gets a little fuzzy.

You have to have a reasonable belief that the person that is in the parameter of your property intends to commit a felony upon your person or your home”

Colom says The castle Doctrine could possibly played a role in Saturday’s incident.

“Based on the information we have now there have been some suggestion that the castle Doctrine might be in play. So speaking generally, the castle doctrine says a person’s home is their castle that they can use what ever force they feel necessary to protect their home. You feel that deadly force is necessary to protect your home then that’s legal,”said Colom.

Jourdan adds the Castle Doctrine also extends to your vehicle if you are occupying it during the breaking and feel your in imminent  danger.