Legal Definitions - SODDI defense

The SODDI defense, an acronym for "Some Other Dude Did It," refers to a defense strategy in criminal proceedings where the accused claims that someone else, rather than themselves, committed the crime in question. This defense typically involves the defendant asserting that an unidentified or vaguely described third party is responsible, without providing specific details, an alibi for themselves, or concrete evidence pointing to an alternative suspect. It's a general denial of culpability by attributing the criminal act to an unspecified "other person."

• Imagine a scenario where a person is arrested for breaking and entering into a store. During their trial, the defendant states, "I wasn't the one who broke the window and stole the items; it must have been some other person I saw running away from the scene." However, they cannot provide any description of this individual, nor can they explain why they were in the vicinity or why they didn't report the "other person" to the authorities immediately. This is a classic SODDI defense because the defendant is broadly shifting blame to an unknown third party without offering specific details or an alternative explanation for their own presence or innocence.

• Consider a case where a car is pulled over, and illegal firearms are discovered in the trunk. The driver, who is subsequently charged with illegal possession, claims, "Those aren't my guns. I lent my car to a friend last week, and they must have left them there." When pressed for details, the defendant cannot recall which friend borrowed the car, when exactly, or any other information that would allow investigators to verify the claim or identify the alleged culprit. This exemplifies a SODDI defense, as the defendant attributes the crime to an unnamed and unidentifiable "friend" without providing actionable information.

• In a situation involving a street brawl where one individual is severely injured, a suspect is identified and charged with assault. During their defense, the accused admits to being at the scene but insists, "I didn't throw the punch that caused the injury; another guy, who just disappeared into the crowd, was the one responsible." The defendant offers no description of this "other guy," no reason why they didn't intervene or identify them at the time, and no corroborating witnesses. This constitutes a SODDI defense because the defendant attempts to deflect blame onto an anonymous individual without offering any verifiable details to support their assertion.