General defences in criminal law are legal arguments or principles that individuals accused of committing a crime can raise to challenge their liability or reduce their culpability. These defences aim to justify or excuse the defendant’s actions, showing that they should not be held criminally responsible for the offense. Here are some common general defences in criminal law, along with examples:
Self-Defence:
Self-defence is a defence that allows individuals to protect themselves or others from imminent harm or threat. It justifies the use of reasonable force to prevent or counter an attack. The key elements of self-defence include a genuine belief in the need for self-protection and the use of proportionate force.
Example: If someone is physically assaulted and, in response, uses necessary and reasonable force to defend themselves, they may raise self-defence as a defence against charges of assault.
Duress:
The defence of duress applies when a person is forced or compelled to commit a crime under the threat of serious harm or death. It acknowledges that the individual’s actions were not voluntary and that they were coerced by another person.
Example: If someone is threatened with harm to themselves or their loved ones and is compelled to commit a robbery at gunpoint, they may raise duress as a defence against charges of robbery.
Necessity:
The defence of necessity recognizes that an individual committed a criminal act to prevent a greater harm or danger. It involves a situation where the person faced a genuine emergency, and their actions were a reasonable response to avoid harm.
Example: If a person trespasses onto private property to seek shelter during a severe storm when there are no other safe alternatives available, they may raise the defence of necessity against charges of trespassing.
Insanity:
The insanity defence applies when a person’s mental capacity at the time of the crime was significantly impaired, preventing them from understanding the nature and consequences of their actions or distinguishing right from wrong. It asserts that the person should not be held criminally responsible due to their mental condition.
Example: If a person suffering from a severe mental illness commits a crime without being aware of the nature and wrongfulness of their actions, they may raise an insanity defence.
Mistake of Fact:
Mistake of fact occurs when a person commits an act under a genuine and reasonable belief in a set of facts that, if true, would have made their actions legal. It asserts that the person should not be held liable because they were unaware of the true circumstances.
Example: If someone takes an item from a store, genuinely believing that they have already paid for it, and it later turns out to be a mistake, they may raise a mistake of fact defence against charges of theft.
It’s important to note that the availability and requirements of these defences may vary depending on jurisdiction. Additionally, the burden of proof for establishing a defence generally rests on the defendant or their legal representatives. These general defences provide individuals with legal avenues to challenge their criminal liability or mitigate the severity of their actions based on specific circumstances surrounding the offense.
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