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Questions tagged [threats]

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Is a person breaking into your house an automatic threat on your life?

If someone has broken into your house, is that an automatic threat to your life? Which means lethal force with a claim of self-defence is going to be accepted by law enforcement?
Neil Meyer
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Is a conditional threat still a true threat?

In the US, can attaching a condition to a threat have any bearing on whether it's a true threat or not? In other words, is there are difference between the following threats, in terms of criminal law: I'll hit you! (unconditional) If you speak to…
John B
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What would be considered as a true threat?

What is considered to be as a true threat? Let's say that there is a person who said to someone else "You deserve to die... Watch your back, I'm coming for you." which becomes an issue in court. On what grounds and argument would the Prosecution use…
Kritikalken
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Is it illegal to threaten harm to yourself?

If Bob goes up to Alice with a knife and threatens to cut her, obviously that's illegal. But what if Bob points the knife at himself, and threatens to hurt/kill himself? Assuming he's subdued before he can hurt himself, can Bob face legal action? As…
chausies
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Is a future threat a defense for murder?

Consider this scenario: you and a known enemy, with which you have had violent altercations in the past, have been in a fight and you have been badly wounded. The enemy tells you that once he leaves he is going to immediately go to your house and…
Ethan
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Why can the police do nothing about flag hangers in Lisburn, NI?

This article - Some families 'feel unsafe' after group puts up flags on lampposts describes a group of men hanging UK Union flags on lamp-posts in a "mixed area", (itself a provocative act) and, crucially, threatening to burn the houses of anyone…
valiantv
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Someone online stated his intent to abuse a minor. Could this alone lead to a criminal conviction?

A few years back, I came across a horrifying post on an image sharing website. There were several photos of a minor, some in a bathing suit, but none explicitly of pornographic or sexual nature. Disturbing but the real horror in this particular post…
jlle54
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Is it legal to lie to someone that you have a concealed weapon?

Suppose someone threatens me and I tell them that I have a concealed weapon and I'm willing to use it to defend myself (when I in fact do not, because that's illegal under section 89 of the Criminal Code), thereby avoiding an altercation. Does this…
Purple P
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Is it legal to openly pray for divine judgment on a person, if threatening to do the actions oneself would be illegal?

It is usually illegal for Bob to say to Alice, "I'm going to kill you." That is a threat. What if Bob instead openly prays to a deity which he believes can and does answer prayers, (I don't expect which deity he prays to will be relevant in most…
Someone
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What’s the difference between a mild, non-physical assault, and s4 POA or Affray?

(POA refers to the Public Order Act 1986.) According to the sentencing council, Common assault is when a person inflicts violence on someone else or makes them think they are going to be attacked. It does not have to involve physical violence.…
TylerDurden
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What crimes can be defended claiming duress?

I understand most crimes can be defended by claiming duress. I know that excludes the murder of an innocent person, but what other crimes cannot be fully defended using duress? Also, if someone did commit a murder under dures swhat would they be…
Ethan
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What kind of lawyer should I contact after not receiving the service which I paid for?

I went to a courier company to pick up my package and not only was my package not released (in spite of me having all the legal documents) when I pressed for an explanation I was asked to leave the store or threatened that the police would be…
HamurrabisHomie
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Would a political poster implying that a politician will be killed by angry citizens constitute a legally-actionable threat under U.S. law?

In the U.S., freedom of speech does not extend to serious threats to cause harm to another. Don and Ron are two reactionary politicians. One election season, John, who hates reactionaries with a passion, creates two political posters: The first…
Vikki
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