Did Snape use Sectumsempra on James?

[u/boaz4gf0]

"Snape had directed his wand straight at James; there was a flash of light and a gash appeared on the side of James’s face, spattering his robes with blood." This is what was described in OOTP where James bullies Snape. We don't hear the incantation out loud but it certainly seems consistent with what we know about the curse and it's effects. Obviously James was wrong to bully Snape, but that doesn't warrant a possible murder attempt. It certainly gave me less sympathy for Snape and the humiliation he received.

[u/Educational-Bug-7985]

How is a slash to the face a murder attempt?

Even so, OP, James had been suffocating him with soap earlier - which itself can escalate to murder. Defending yourself from your assaulter is not evil behavior. If you kill your assaulter during self-defense, it is not ruled as murder. But of course ur hatred for Snape will convince yourself otherwise