For which of these actions could a defendant claim duress?

A defendant could claim duress in the situation where they committed theft under threat of harm. Duress involves being forced or coerced into committing a crime due to the imminent threat of physical harm. In this case, if the defendant was threatened with immediate danger to themselves or someone else they care about unless they committed the theft, it could be argued that they acted under duress. The legal principle recognizes that individuals may not have a true choice when faced with such life-threatening situations, hence they can be excused from liability for their actions under these extreme circumstances.

In contrast, hiding from law enforcement does not typically invoke a duress defense, as it generally does not involve a direct threat of harm necessitating the hiding. Defending oneself against a physical assault is an example of self-defense rather than duress, as it involves reacting to immediate danger rather than being compelled to commit a crime. Lastly, voluntarily participating in illegal activities shows no indication of coercion or threat, therefore it does not meet the criteria for a duress claim.