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Notes -
I believe this is a slight simplification. After all, claiming self-defense is relatively rare. Given an altercation without video or additional witnesses, how could you ever convict someone who just claimed self-defense? I think that there is some (relatively minor, but still existent) hurdle the defendant has to pass before being allowed to claim self-defense, and only then does "reasonable doubt" apply.
Yes, there has to be some evidence of self-defense in order to get the issue before the jury. That can be the defendant's own testimony, but the jury of course can decline to believe the defendant. If they don't believe him, then that is enough to convict. The People have proven their case by convincing the jury that the defendant is lying.
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