A full defence is described in law as if the defence of a charge is successful then the defendent is not guilty of that charge and will be aquitted and can go free.

A partial defence is one where should the defense succeed then the defendent is not guilty of the criome that he has been charged with but guilty of a lesser crime.

In England, diminished responsibility is a partial defense to a charge of murder and should the defense succeed, then the defendent is not guilty of murder but guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter due tio diminished responsibility. This usually attracts a long spell in a mental institution with no hope of release unless it can be proved that the mental condition has been cured.

Self defense, assuming that excessive force has not been used is a full defense against murder and if the defense succeeds then the defendent is aquitted.

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