Kansas Statutes Annotated

K.S.A. § 21-3211 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
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21-3211.

History: L. 1969, ch. 180, § 21-3211; L. 2006, ch. 194, § 3; L. 2010, ch. 124, § 4; Repealed, L. 2011, ch. 30, § 288; July 1.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 111 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1978–2026 · leading case: State v. Hendrix, 218 P.3d 40 (Kan. 2009).
State v. Hendrix, 218 P.3d 40 (Kan. 2009). · cites it 36× “The panel cited the statute and the standard jury instruction on self-defense: K.S.A. 21-3211 (Furse 1995) and PIK Crim.”
State v. Roeder, 336 P.3d 831 (Kan. 2014). · cites it 7× “21-3403 but that “[w]hen we return to the statutory elements under K.S.A. 21-3211, those become objective.” We agree.”
State v. Haygood, 430 P.3d 11 (Kan. 2018). · cites it 3× “Specifically, the district court viewed the question from the perspective of the defendant's credibility, stating that the issue was whether "twelve reasonable people would listen to what he had just said and believe it.”
State v. Cosby, 262 P.3d 285 (Kan. 2011). · cites it 6× “21-3403(b) defines this type of voluntary manslaughter as "the intentional killing of a human being committed upon an unreasonable but honest belief that circumstances existed that justified deadly force under K.S.A. 21-3211...." K.S.A. 21-3211(a) provides that "a person is…”
State v. Moore, 194 P.3d 18 (Kan. 2008). · cites it 6× “(b) upon an unreasonable but honest belief that circumstances existed that justified deadly force under K.S.A. 21-3211 . . . .” In turn, K.S.A. 21-3211 provides: “A person is justified in the use of force against another when and to the extent it appears to such person and such…”
State v. Salary, 343 P.3d 1165 (Kan. 2015). · cites it 5× “These elements are set out in K.S.A. 21-3211: “(a) A person is justified in the use of force against another when and to the extent it appeai-s to such person and such person reasonably believes that such force is necessaiy to defend such person .”
State v. Bellinger, 278 P.3d 975 (Kan. Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 10× “K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 21-3211, the self-defense statute, was enacted to apply retroactively and so applies to this crime, see K.”
State v. Gonzalez, 145 P.3d 18 (Kan. 2006). · cites it 3× “at 793 , this court addressed the question raised by this appeal: “The provisions of K.S.A. 21-3211 limit tire use of force against an aggressor to those circumstances when and to the extent ‘it appears to him and he reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to defend…”
State v. Phillips, 287 P.3d 245 (Kan. 2012). · cites it 3× “Voluntary manslaughter is the “intentional killing of a human being committed (a) upon a sudden quarrel or in tire heat of passion; or (b) upon an unreasonable but honest beliéf that circumstances existed that justified deadly force under K.S.A. 21-3211, 21-3212 or 21-3213 and…”
State v. Holmes, 102 P.3d 406 (Kan. 2004). · cites it 2× “He points to an element of voluntary manslaughter that he intentionally killed the victim “upon an unreasonable but honest belief that circumstances existed that justified deadly force in defense of a person.”
State v. Ultreras, 295 P.3d 1020 (Kan. 2013). · cites it 3× “21-3211, 21-3212 or 21-3213, and amendments thereto, is immune from criminal prosecution and civil action for the use of such force, unless the person against whom force was used is a law enforcement officer who was acting in the performance of such officer’s official duties and…”
State v. Underwood, 615 P.2d 153 (Kan. 1980). · cites it 4× “21-3211, a person is justified in the use of force against an aggressor when and to the extent it appears to him, and he reasonably believes, that such conduct is necessary to defend himself or another against the aggressor's imminent use of unlawful force.”
— K.S.A. § 21-3211(a) — 13 cases
State v. Hendrix, 218 P.3d 40 (Kan. 2009). “The panel cited the statute and the standard jury instruction on self-defense: K.S.A. 21-3211 (Furse 1995) and PIK Crim.”
State v. Waller, 328 P.3d 1111 (Kan. 2014).
Cook v. Olathe Med. Ctr., Inc., 773 F. Supp. 2d 990 (D. Kan. 2011).
State v. Cosby, 262 P.3d 285 (Kan. 2011). “21-3403(b) defines this type of voluntary manslaughter as "the intentional killing of a human being committed upon an unreasonable but honest belief that circumstances existed that justified deadly force under K.S.A. 21-3211...." K.S.A. 21-3211(a) provides that "a person is…”
State v. Roeder, 336 P.3d 831 (Kan. 2014). “21-3403 but that “[w]hen we return to the statutory elements under K.S.A. 21-3211, those become objective.” We agree.”
— K.S.A. § 21-3211(b) — 7 cases
State v. Cosby, 262 P.3d 285 (Kan. 2011). “21-3403(b) defines this type of voluntary manslaughter as "the intentional killing of a human being committed upon an unreasonable but honest belief that circumstances existed that justified deadly force under K.S.A. 21-3211...." K.S.A. 21-3211(a) provides that "a person is…”
State v. Knox, 342 P.3d 656 (Kan. 2015).
State v. Phillips, 287 P.3d 245 (Kan. 2012). “Voluntary manslaughter is the “intentional killing of a human being committed (a) upon a sudden quarrel or in tire heat of passion; or (b) upon an unreasonable but honest beliéf that circumstances existed that justified deadly force under K.S.A. 21-3211, 21-3212 or 21-3213 and…”
State v. Bellinger, 278 P.3d 975 (Kan. Ct. App. 2012). “K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 21-3211, the self-defense statute, was enacted to apply retroactively and so applies to this crime, see K.”
State v. Cook, 191 P.3d 294 (Kan. 2008).
— K.S.A. § 21-3211(c) — 2 cases
State v. Brown, 262 P.3d 1055 (Kan. Ct. App. 2011).
State v. Bellinger, 278 P.3d 975 (Kan. Ct. App. 2012). “K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 21-3211, the self-defense statute, was enacted to apply retroactively and so applies to this crime, see K.”
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