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Criminal Law Keyed to Ohlin
Dixon v. United States
Citation:
548 U.S. 1 (2006)Facts
While purchasing multiple firearms, Dixon provided an incorrect address and falsely stated that she was not under indictment for a felony. At her trial, she admitted that she knew that she was under indictment and knew that her purchases were crimes, but asserted the defense that she had acted under duress because her boyfriend had threatened to harm her and her children if she did not buy the guns for him.
She requested that the jury be told that she “should have the burden of production, and then that the Government should be required to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt the duress.” The trial court rejected this request. She was convicted, and appealed.
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