Obedience to Superior Orders and Related Defences

Abstract

In the trials reported in this series, the accused invoked a range of pleas in an attempt to evade criminal responsibility or mitigate punishment. Some pleas simply represented claims that the prosecution was unable to establish the offence or the involvement of the accused in its commission. These included claims that the accused had been falsely identified or had an alibi; claims that the alleged victim consented to the relevant conduct; and claims that the alleged victim died as a result of an accident or natural causes.