the use of force, false imprisonment or threats (and possibly psychological torture
or "brainwashing") to compel someone to act contrary to his/her wishes or interests.
If duress is used to get someone to sign an agreement or execute a will, a court
may find the document null and void. A defendant in a criminal prosecution may raise
the defense that others used duress to force him/her to take part in an alleged
crime. The most famous case is that of publishing heiress Patty Hearst, who was
kidnapped, raped, imprisoned and psychologically tortured until she joined her captors
in a bank holdup and issued statements justifying her actions. She was later convicted
of the bank robbery, but was eventually pardoned by President Jimmy Carter.
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