General Exceptions
BNS Section 17 - Act done by a person justified, or by mistake of fact believing himself justified, by law
Simple summary
Read the official BNS text below and consult an advocate for advice based on your facts.
Full official legal text
17. Act done by a person justified, or by mistake of fact believing himself justified, by law.--
Nothing is an offence which is done by any person who is justified by law, or who by reason of a mistake
of fact and not by reason of a mistake of law in good faith, believes himself to be justified by law, in
doing it.
Illustration.
A sees Z commit what appears to A to be a murder. A, in the exercise, to the best of his judgment
exerted in good faith, of the power which the law gives to all persons of apprehending murderers in the
fact, seizes Z, in order to bring Z before the proper authorities. A has committed no offence, though it
may turn out that Z was acting in self-defence.