Duress

1. Describe R v Coles (1994)

• D committed a number of robberies because he owed money to money lenders who had threatened him, his wife and his child. He was convicted as the threats had not been directed at the commission of a particular offence.
• D lived with his wife and his homosexual partner. The homosexual partner was jealous of the wife and put a flex around the wife's neck, pulled it tight and told D to take hold of the other end of the flex. The defendant did so and the wife died.