Summary of Defences in Criminal Trials

The whole area of defences in criminal trials is, of course, far more complex than this lesson's treatment of it can indicate, and it is an area where changes are occurring in the law. Nevertheless, you should now have a basic understanding of the sorts of defences an accused can present in court. From now on when you read or listen to media coverage of a criminal trial, study the facts of the case and think carefully about the defence the accused is presenting; then try to predict the outcome of the case based on what you know. You may be surprised at how much better able you are to understand what happens in such trials and why.