The Concentrate Questions and Answers series offers the best preparation for tackling exam questions. Each book includes typical questions, diagram answer plans, suggested answers, and author commentary. This chapter presents sample exam questions focusing on the defences. The chapter covers the ‘mental defences’ of insanity, automatism, and intoxication as well as the compulsion defences of duress, necessity, and self-defence.
Defences affecting the mental element can be quite similar, and there is considerable overlap. Therefore, questions on these defences need to be tackled technically and logically. The test for duress has been tightened recently, and there is considerable debate over whether the defence of necessity exists at all.