The Illustrated Guide to Criminal Law
Chapter 14: Do or Die
Duress pg 5: The First Two Elements
Duress is a complete defense. That means, if it applies, then you didn’t commit a crime at all. It’s not that you’re excused for doing it, but that there’s nothing to excuse in the first place.
So let’s see if this defense applies to Vicky.
As with everything else in Criminal Law, each state defines it differently. But in general:
FIRST: Someone else has to have made a threat, that you commit the crime or else.
Thug Biker casually resting shotgun over his shoulder
THUG BIKER
Either you rent out that hole, or I give you some new ones.
SECOND: The threat must give you an actual, reasonable fear that you (or someone close to you) will be killed.
Looking down the barrel of that shotgun
SHOTGUN
Or at least pretty goddamn seriously injured.