Ajaväide
Ajaväide is a term used in Estonian legal discussions to describe a defense that rests on the timing of an alleged act. The phrase literally means a “time defense” and is employed to contest whether the act occurred within the legally relevant time frame or under the conditions required by the offense. In practice, ajaväide can be raised to question the timing elements of a crime, the moment when an act was performed, or the date on which a consequential event happened, as well as to challenge the timeliness of evidence or reporting.
The concept appears primarily in Estonian criminal-law literature and discussions of procedural and evidentiary issues. It
A defendant may invoke an ajaväide to argue that the alleged act did not occur within the
Alibi; Statutory time limits; Burden of proof; Element of a crime.
Because terminology can vary by jurisdiction and case law, ajaväide is best understood as a timing-based defense