In which situation might a defendant use renunciation as a defense?

Renunciation is a legal defense that applies when an individual voluntarily withdraws from participating in a crime, demonstrating that they have distinctively changed their mind and decided against committing the offense. This defense acknowledges that while the individual may have initially planned or attempted to engage in criminal activity, their subsequent decision to abandon this plan indicates a lack of culpability.

In this context, a defendant would typically have to show that their decision to renounce was made voluntarily, and it should be clear that they took affirmative steps to avoid the crime, such as notifying law enforcement or abandoning their efforts completely. This distinctly illustrates the principle behind renunciation: it emphasizes the defendant's change of heart and their conscious choice not to proceed with criminal intent or action.

This contrasts with the other options, where factors such as coercion, threat, or manipulation are in play, which do not support the renunciation defense but rather indicate a potentially different legal consideration, such as coercion or duress.