8 EXAMPLE: THEORY OF THE CASE When called into the gas station, Gary Conaster, was shocked to discover his friend,Adam Burnette, had stabbed the gas station attendant and was pointing a large knife at him.Terrified and confused, Gary, fearing for his life, obeyed Adam's commands to take the moneyand give it to Adam. Under these circumstances, Gary is NOT GUILTY of any crime because hewas coerced, under threat of bodily harm, into participating in the robbery.A THEORY OF THE CASE IS NOT THE SAME AS THE STORY OF INNOCENCE OR REDUCED CULPABILITY Story of innocence/reduced culpability is too large in scope and components to be manageable oruseful to litigator.Story of innocence/reduced culpability is to be unfolded and told to the fact-finder.Theory of the case is the litigator's compass, lodestar or story synopsis.