ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Duplicity (law)

Okay kiddo, let's talk about duplicity in law. Have you ever played a game where you have to guess how many jellybeans are in a jar? Well, sometimes the law is like that too. It has to guess how many crimes someone committed based on the evidence.

Duplicity happens when there is only one charge or crime, but it actually includes more than one action or event. It's like saying you stole a whole bag of candy when really you stole a candy bar and a lollipop. The judge and jury have to decide if you really did both things or just one of them.

But that's not really fair, right? If you're accused of doing two things, you should be charged with two crimes. So, lawyers have to make sure the charges are clear and specific. This is called "charging with specificity."

For example, if someone breaks into a house and steals a TV and a phone, they should be charged with two crimes: burglary and theft. This way, the judge and jury can focus on each action separately and make a fair decision about what really happened.

Overall, duplicity in law can be confusing, but it's important to make sure that people are only being charged for the crimes they actually committed. This way, justice is served and everyone gets a fair trial.