71.7 Affirmative Defense
of Renunciation under Texas Penal Code Section 71.05
Comment
The language of Tex. Penal Code § 71.05(a), creating and defining the
affirmative defense of renunciation, suggests it might apply in
any prosecution under section 71.02. The defense, however, requires
proof that the defendant prevented the commission of the covered
offense, so obviously it cannot apply to prosecutions in which the state
proves the defendant committed the covered offense. Consequently
it is limited to prosecutions undertaken on the theory that the
defendant conspired to commit a covered offense. See CPJC 71.15 and
the instruction at CPJC 71.16.
Comment
The language of Tex. Penal Code § 71.05(a), creating and defining the affirmative defense of renunciation, suggests it might apply in any prosecution under section 71.02. The defense, however, requires proof that the defendant prevented the commission of the covered offense, so obviously it cannot apply to prosecutions in which the state proves the defendant committed the covered offense. Consequently it is limited to prosecutions undertaken on the theory that the defendant conspired to commit a covered offense. See CPJC 71.15 and the instruction at CPJC 71.16.