State v. Knapp

This is an appeal from a jury verdict finding the defendant guilty of aiding in petty larceny in violation of 13 V.S.A. §§ 3 and 2502. The principal issue on appeal is the failure of the trial court to instruct the jury on the defense of duress. We hold that the evidence presented by the defendant failed to raise a factual issue of duress warranting such an instruction, and therefore affirm.

The defendant and two co-defendants, Tony Stratton and Richard Thompson, were riding in a car owned by Stratton and driven by Thompson. Stratton became irritated with a driver behind them, and he told…