Necessity

In criminal law, necessity is a possible excuse for breaking the law. Defendants who use this defense are arguing that they should not be held liable for a crime, since the actions taken were, for some reason or other, "necessary". Most common law jurisdictions do not allow this defense to be used in case of murder.

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In an early trial for which this defense was used, Regina v. Dudley & Stephens (1884) 14 QBD 273 DC, two shipwrecked sailors decided to eat a cabin boy. The court ruled that cannibalizing the individual was not necessary; the sailors were found guilty of murder. Other courts have ruled, in cases where the eaten individual had died of "natural causes" and starvation was an issue, that cannibalism was acceptable.

Criminal law: Criminal law (also known as penal law) is the body of law that punishes criminals for committing offences against the state. The goal of this process is that of achieving criminal justice....

Law: :This article is about law in society. For other possible meanings, see law (disambiguation)....

Defendant: A defendant or defender is any party who is required to answer the complaint of a plaintiff or pursuer in a civil lawsuit before a court, or any party who has been formally charged or accused of violating a criminal statute....