Can this be considered self-defense?

Question

If a bounty hunter were to attack a most wanted criminal with a bounty on his or her head, can the criminal kill the bounty hunter and have it be considered self defense?

I know there are a lot of variables but give me a few examples if you can't make a yes or no answer.

Answer 1

I don't think so.  I mean, the criminal is a criminal and the bounty hunter is trying to get that person in jail.  If the bounty hunter went after the person and tried to capture him and the person killed him, it's not self defense, that's murder.  

It's similar to if a detective tracked you down and you killed him.  

A bounty hunter is bound by the same laws as law enforcement, so they can't attack the person first or anything.  They can retaliate if the criminal attacks them, they can chase after the person, they can shoot if they're shot at, etc.  

Answer 2

Self-defense would not be a valid defense in such a situation because the bounty hunter is not authorized to kill. Only to capture.

Therefore, killing the bounty hunter would be amount to murder.

Answer 3

NO, you can only kill someone in self defense if the threat against you is imminent threat to your life.  Being apprehended for criminal prosecution does not rise to that level.