Jane's Defence

Jane's Defence is a legal principle asserting that an individual cannot be prosecuted for a criminal act if they genuinely believed their actions were necessary to prevent a greater harm. It relies on the idea that honest, reasonable belief in the necessity of their conduct can justify or excuse the conduct, even if it turns out to be incorrect. Essentially, it considers the mindset of the defendant at the time of the act, focusing on whether they genuinely thought they were acting to prevent a serious threat, rather than on whether their belief was ultimately correct.