History Main / NotHelpingYourCase

* In ''The Seventh Sword'' trilogy, by Dave Duncan, our hero, Shonsu, is a great swordsman who doesn't know the customs of the land he lives in. He often talks too much, which turns out to not help his case. In the end of the first book, Shonsu is asked about how he managed to survive an attack. He goes into detail about how he used a dagger and attacked two men at one time, then attacked a fleeing swordsman, chopping him down as he ran away. All of these actions were against the well-established rules of the land.

->''"It's worth noting that [Chris Johnson]'s first response to the news site that labeled him a pimp was to threaten to 'Come down there and slap the shit out everyone I see', which we admit doesn't at all sound like something a pimp would say."''

For added ironic flavour, the newly-criminal character may be busted just as the others come around and start to believe his original claim - giving the [[JadeColoredGlasses cynic]] of the group something to [[DeadpanSnarker snark]] about - ''"Well I guess you're right chumps, he really'' isn't ''a thief... he's just a'' [[GraveRobbing graverobber]].''"''

** Granted, Tenma was less interested in proving his own innocence than in helping others, performing selfless acts [[BreadEggsMilkSquick ...and]] [[HeWhoFightsMonsters trying to bring down a man]] who may well be the [[TheAntichrist very embodiment of evil itself]] (and the one who is actually behind the crimes he's accused of).

* In ''WebAnimation/TurnaboutStorm'', [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Rainbow Dash]] is accused of murdering one of her rivals in an upcoming race, a rare crime that could cost her a one way ticket to the Sun if she's found guilty. As [[VisualNovel/AceAttorney Phoenix]] is interrogating her, she comments that the prize for the winner of the race is flight lessons with her idols The Wonderbolts, and she'd do anything to get that chance.

* Happens a lot in ''AceAttorney'', but the crowning king of the trope is probably Larry Butz. In AceAttorneyInvestigations, he elevates this into an art-form [[spoiler: by actively trying to counter Edgeworth's arguments... [[TooDumbToLive while Edgeworth is in the middle of trying to prove him innocent of committing murder]]]]

Compare IResembleThatRemark. Somewhat related are YouHaveToBelieveMe, where a character tries to prove their sanity by [[FreakOut screaming incoherent gibberish]]; DiggingYourselfDeeper, where they try to sound [[ThatCameOutWrong less creepy]] by justifying the original creepy remark; and StickyFingers. Contrast with WrongfulAccusationInsurance, wherein the character is not implicated for crimes committed while trying to [[ClearMyName clear his name]]. The tropes may overlap, though, if the character is called out for his crimes as they happen, yet [[EasilyForgiven unceremoniously pardoned]] after his name is cleared.

----Fathers 4 Justice

* The protagonist of Creator/AlfredHitchcock's ''{{Frenzy}}'' is framed by a serial killer, who turns out to be [[spoiler: his best friend. As he's hauled off to his cell he repeatedly screams "I've got nothing to lose now! I might as well do what I'm being put away for!" This almost comes back to bite him when he escapes, as his attempt to catch the killer results in the cop who's been trying to prove his innocence for the whole film finds him standing over a dead prostitute.]]

----

** From the same 'verse, we have [[BlazeUnion Mizer]], who at the time sustained himself by sneak thieving. Upon being accused of stealing a pendant from [[TeamDad Velleman]], the party's noble sponsor, he first attempts to flee, then denies having done anything once caught, ''then'' rallies his mooks and sneak-attacks you... while [[ScrappyLevel attempting to run away a lot]]. Once you've finally wrestled him into submission, it turns out that Mizer was innocent--Velleman's pendant fell in the mud, and one of Mizer's flunkies picked it up, calling finders keepers.

* This trope could easily be renamed ''The VideoGame/MaxPayne Legal Defence''. In order to prove that he's [[spoiler:innocent of murdering his best friend, who was one of the two guys who knew he was undercover, he goes out and slaughters maybe two hundred gangsters, security personnel, a DEA agent and a CEO of a major corporation, by dropping an antenna mast on her helicopter, plunging it to the street far below...]]
** He could ''probably'' argue self-defence for most of these, and by the end of the game he's more interested in pure and simple revenge.

* In ''VideoGame/MegamanX4'', Repliforce stands accused of destroying a city (they were in fact framed). When they are declared Mavericks for this and refusing to come in for questioning, one of the things they do is destroy a city.

* Lampshaded in an episode of ''StargateSG1'' where because of some contact with an alien substance, Daniel Jackson starts hallucinating, and ranting and raving. Midway through the episode, he asks, "Why does everyone think I'm crazy?!" pauses for a moment, then adds, "It's because I'm sorta acting that way, aren't I?"

* Happens in ''Literature/HarryPotterAndThePrisonerOfAzkaban'' with Sirius Black: He is condemned for the horrible death of one Peter Pettigrew, former close friend, in front of many witnesses; having a role in the deaths of the parents of his godson Harry Potter at the hands of Voldemort, conspiracy in the attempt against the life of the mentioned protagonist, treason and other minutiae. It definitely does not help that he is found maniacally laughing at the scene of the crime, survives a punishment/MindRape in Azkaban that no sane person should and, succeeding an escape from a prison that was previously thought inescapable, goes on stalking his godson and entering Hogwarts with murderous intentions. Oh, and he let slip things like "could just as well have killed 'em myself" from time to time. As it turns out [[spoiler: he went hysterical from the deaths of his friends the Potters thanks to treasonous Peter "Wormtail" Pettigrew (who Sirius himself recommended as the ideal SecretKeeper), tried to avenge them confronting the latter, who managed to frame Sirius for his own (faked) death, was convicted and imprisoned without fair trial, went into an HeroicBSOD so epic it bordered DespairEventHorizon and made the Dementors' powers lose their effect on him, and was in Hogwarts purely to chase Wormtail]].

->''"It's worth noting that [Chris Johnson]'s first response to the news site that labeled him a pimp was to threaten to 'Come down there and slap the shit out everyone I see', which we admit [[SarcasmMode doesn't at all sound like something a pimp would say]]."''

* Tyrion Lannister from ''ASongOfIceAndFire'' does this a lot, and is strange case in that he ''works it to his advantage''. As an example, when he assumed a position of authority in a city where everyone hated him and assumed he was a monster because of his unfortunate appearance, he used this as an excuse to bring along an entourage composed of vicious mountain barbarians who carry human body parts as trophies. This assisted immensely with his political goals.

* The infamous antics of the British protest group [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fathers_4_Justice "Fathers 4 Justice"]], who felt that parental access rights are unfairly biased towards the mother under British divorce laws. They might or might not have a point, but that is not a debate for this wiki. What is ''not'' up for debate is that when the general thrust of your argument is, "we can ''too'' be trusted to look after young children", participating in WackyHijinks involving [[NoodleImplements hilariously cheap superhero costumes, flour-filled condoms and various national monuments]]([[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fathers_4_Justice_protests details]]) to make your point is definitely counter-productive.
* Soon after Tesco was found to be selling horsemeat labelled as beef, one of their delivery trucks [[http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/horsemeat-scandal-tesco-delivery-driver-1712046 hit and killed a horse.]]

* Soon after Tesco was found to be selling horsemeat labelled as beef, one of their delivery drivers [[http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/horsemeat-scandal-tesco-delivery-driver-1712046 hit and killed a horse.]]

Compare IResembleThatRemark. Somewhat related are YouHaveToBelieveMe, where a character tries to prove their sanity by [[FreakOut screaming incoherent gibberish]], DiggingYourselfDeeper, where they try to sound [[ThatCameOutWrong less creepy]] by justifying the original creepy remark, and StickyFingers. Contrast with WrongfulAccusationInsurance, wherein the character is not implicated for crimes committed while trying to [[ClearMyName clear his name]]. The tropes may overlap, though, if the character is called out for his crimes as they happen, yet [[EasilyForgiven unceremoniously pardoned]] after his name is cleared.

** It being a premeditated murder of a guy he had never met, the protagonist was trying to figure out who was framing him. Still not helping, but it was at least rational. Ironically, it is these very acts which make it premeditated even though he never met the guy, thus making the whole thing a StableTimeLoop ([[spoiler:until he subverts the ending]]).

* Happens in ''HarryPotter/HarryPotterAndThePrisonerOfAzkaban'' with Sirius Black: He is condemned for the horrible death of one Peter Pettigrew, former close friend, in front of many witnesses; having a role in the deaths of the parents of his godson Harry Potter at the hands of Voldemort, conspiracy in the attempt against the life of the mentioned protagonist, treason and other minutiae. It definitely does not help that he is found maniacally laughing at the scene of the crime, survives a punishment/MindRape in Azkaban that no sane person should and, succeeding an escape from a prison that was previously thought inescapable, goes on stalking his godson and entering Hogwarts with murderous intentions. Oh, and he let slip things like "could just as well have killed 'em myself" from time to time. As it turns out [[spoiler: he went hysterical from the deaths of his friends the Potters thanks to treasonous Peter "Wormtail" Pettigrew (who Sirius himself recommended as the ideal SecretKeeper), tried to avenge them confronting the latter, who managed to frame Sirius for his own (faked) death, was convicted and imprisoned without fair trial, went into an HeroicBSOD so epic it bordered DespairEventHorizon and made the Dementors' powers lose their effect on him, and was in Hogwarts purely to chase Wormtail]].

* ''Film/LordOfTheRings''. "Smeagol wouldn't hurt a fly!" ''(realises he's accidentally swatted a fly)'' "Argggh!"

* In ''FanFic/TurnaboutStorm'', [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Rainbow Dash]] is accused of murdering one of her rivals in an upcoming race, a rare crime that could cost her a one way ticket to the Sun if she's found guilty. As [[VisualNovel/AceAttorney Phoenix]] is interrogating her, she comments that the prize for the winner of the race is flight lessons with her idols The Wonderbolts, and she'd do anything to get that chance.

* The protagonist of ''MinorityReport'' works for an organisation that predicts crimes and preemptively catches would-be criminals. Then he learns that ''he'' is predicted to murder a specific person at a specific location. Where does he flee from the pursuing cops? Why, to that very location of course! Apparently so he could... not kill that guy and thus prove his innocence. Makes perfect sense! It doesn't work, of course, but for other reasons.

** In the third book, he's accused of murdering his nephew, unfairly imprisoned, and given a sham trial; and all this is happening shortly after he fought in an incredibly vicious battle during which he received a horrible injury from which he is still recovering. He pretty much snaps, and not one could blame him. And he ''still'' manages to work this to a minor advantage; [[spoiler: convinced he's getting a sham trial, he demands trial by combat. He selects a member of the Martells as his representative; the Martells are longtime rivals of the Tyrells, the Lannisters' recent political allies. If he wins the trial, the Tyrells will be pissed that the alleged murderer of their daughter's fiance got away; if he loses the trial, the Martells will be pissed that their son died for him. It's one final "screw you" to his family.]]

** From the same 'verse, we have [[BlazeUnion Mizer]], who at the time sustained himself by sneak thieving. Upon being accused of stealing a pendant from [[TeamDad Velleman]], the party's noble sponsor, he first attempts to flee, then denies having done anything once caught, ''then'' rallies his mooks and sneak-attacks you... while [[ScrappyLevel attempting to run away a lot]]. Once you've finally wrestled him into submission, of course, it turns out that Mizer was innocent--Velleman's pendant fell in the mud, and one of Mizer's flunkies picked it up, calling finders keepers.

* ''InvaderZim'' is literally built of examples. When at one point offered to refute some rather convincing evidence Dib had collected on national television, Zim replied to a question of "are you an alien?" with "[[ThatLiarLies LIES! THE FILTHY EARTH BOY LIES!]]", before catching himself and adding "...I mean, 'no'."