NTIn ForceAct
Criminal Code Act 1983
40Duress
Start here
Get a plain-English read of 40
Turn the raw legal text into a practical explanation grounded in Criminal Code Act 1983.
40 Duress
(1) A person is excused from criminal responsibility for an act, omission
or event if it was done, made or caused because of duress
provided:
(a) he believed the person making the threat was in a position to
execute the threat;
(b) he believed there was no other way he could ensure the threat
was not executed;
(c) an ordinary person similarly circumstanced would have acted
in the same or a similar way; and
(d) he reported the threat to a police officer as soon as was
reasonably practicable, unless the nature of the threat was
such that an ordinary person similarly circumstanced would
not have reported that threat.
(2) The excuse referred to in subsection (1) does not extend to an act,
omission or event that would constitute an offence of which serious
harm or an intention to cause such harm is an element; nor to a
person who has rendered himself liable to have such a threat made
to him by having entered into an association or conspiracy that has
as any of its objects the doing of a wrongful act.