ABUSE EXCUSE

abuse  excuse.Criminal  law.  The  defense  that  a  defendant  cannot  tell  right  from  wrong  or

control impulses be-cause  of  physical  or  mental  abuse  suffered  as  a  child.  • Like  the  traditional

excuse of insanity, the abuse excuse is asserted by a defendant in an effort to avoid all culpability

for   the   crime   charged.   Cf.   BATTERED-CHILD   SYNDROME;   BATTERED-WOMAN

SYNDROME. [Blacks Law 8th]