Question

Reuben forces his way into the house of an elderly couple. He tells the lady that if she does not help him in carrying out a bank heist, he will shoot her husband. Which defense would be acceptable for the elderly lady if she in fact goes along with Reuben and helps him carry out the bank heist?

Answer 1

Answer:

The correct answer is: Duress.

Explanation:

Illegal actions sometimes can be excused in law if the defendant pleads a duress defense. Duress is the threat of harm someone receives to influence the individual's actions typically to commit a crime. The defendant must prove that there was no reasonable opportunity to escape. The only escape under that scenario was accepting the criminal's commands.

Answer 2

Answer:

Duress/Coercion/Compulsion

Explanation:

Duress or Coercion or Compulsion: This type of defense involves someone else threatening to use force or violence to get you to do something against your better judgment. Essentially, it means you were forced to commit a crime. In this case, Reuben want to entangle the elderly lady into the crime of bank heist by threatening to shoot her husband.

For a defense of Duress/Coercion/Compulsion: the person must be forced to commit the offence. The person under duress (illegal coercion usually through being threatened or the use of violence) must be present when the offence is committed. The person must believe that the threat will be carried out.