Criminal Law

Duress

Duress is an excuse defense when one reasonable believes that committing a crime is:

1. His only way of rebuffing a
2. Credible and
3. Imminent
4. Threat of death or grievous bodily injury to himself or a member of his family,
5. While not being at fault for creating the coercive situation.

A crime committed under duress is committed to further the criminal activity of the aggressor, not to resist him.