Criminal law self defense

Self-defense is using force or violence to protect oneself, or a third person, from imminent harm. In other words, the victim reasonably believes they are in

Is violence ever justified in self defense?

Violence is obviously justified in self defense.
Common law allows us to defend ourselves against assault.
Also possibly as a punishment or deterrent to criminal behaviour, but not as justifiable as a direct use of violence to prevent being murdered or raped for example.

In Sweden, the law of self-defense allows a person attacked to excuse or justify a proportionate use of violence in defense of the person or property.

Form of affirmative defense in response and justification of violent or immediate acts

In the United States, self-defense is an affirmative defense that is used to justify the use of force by one person against another person under specific circumstances.