Hypothetical: man kills wife, claims it was because she killed children

No, he killed his wife by his own admission. Running away from a justified manslaughter turns it into murder, IMHO.

 

Do you believe the same thing about a self-defense killing?
Say you killed someone in self-defense, but the situation is such that you doubt anyone would believe it was self-defense.

(Example, if it helps: Maybe it was your wife's lover she was having an affair with, and she had lied and claimed to authorities you had threatened to kill them both, to get a restraining order, and then after that her lover attacks you)

 

Now we have an international version of this scenario playing out, with the Saudis claiming the death of Khashoggi was not intentional, but no way to know for sure because they disposed of the body, because they didn't want to get in trouble with Turkish authorities since the Saudi embassy where it happened was located in Turkey.
And no one believes them. I don't think I do.

But hypothetically, their story could be possible. They could have been beating him up and took things too far.

 

If I ever kill somebody in self defense, I'm waiting for the police. I don't care if it's unbelievable or not, if you run, you will be found guilty. The only chance you have is forensics.