The Stanhope Defense is an innovative Legal Defense created by American comedian Doug Stanhope, exclusive to the Icelandic jurisdiction. It originated following the announcement of Stanhope's performance at the maximum security Litla-Hraun Prison outside Eyrarbakki, Iceland on September 25, 2011 at 6 pm. Stanhope claimed that - with no accessibility provided via traditional ticket sales - his Icelandic fans would commit crimes in order to be in jail for the show, but could deny the requisite mens rea needed to establish guilt by way of a Stanhope defense, as they had no interest in committing the crime, and merely sought the short-term entertainment benefits of timely incarceration.
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