I was attacked by the complaining witness in a Vermont assault case, can’t I use self defense to protect myself?

Vermont law surrounding self-defense in assault cases is complex. Self-defense is what is called an affirmative defense, meaning that it is a type of criminal defense that usually needs to be asserted once your case is already charged. There are ways to help your self-defense case (such as taking pictures of your injuries when they are fresh and seeking appropriate medical treatment for yourself). If there were any witnesses to you using self-defense in a Vermont assault case, it may be helpful to have them give sworn statements. It is important to call an attorney right away to help you prepare your self-defense case for assault charges in Vermont.