What is the defense of duress?
In order to establish a defense of duress, an accused individual must show that he acted under an immediate threat of death or serious bodily injury, that he had a well-grounded fear that the threat would be carried out, and that he had no reasonable opportunity to escape or inform the police. This defense is also available when the threat of immediate serious harm is directed at a third person and the accused acted unlawfully in order to protect that person.
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