Legal Definitions - abuse excuse

Abuse excuse is a legal defense used in criminal cases where the defendant claims that they were unable to distinguish between right and wrong or control their actions due to prolonged abuse. This defense is often used in cases where the defendant has experienced physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.

• A person who was physically abused as a child may use the abuse excuse defense if they are charged with assault for attacking someone.
• A woman who was repeatedly raped by her partner may use the abuse excuse defense if she is charged with killing him in self-defense.

These examples illustrate how the abuse excuse defense can be used in cases where the defendant has experienced prolonged abuse. The defense argues that the abuse has caused the defendant to act in a way that they would not have otherwise acted if they had not been abused.