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Webster's New World Law Dictionary » accomplice
accomplice
accomplice definition - legal
n
One who knowingly,
voluntarily, or intentionally, and with common intent and criminal purpose
shared with the principal offender, solicits or encourages another to commit a
crime or assists or attempts to assist in its planning and execution. Normally,
oneÂ’s mere presence while knowing the crime is about to be committed, without
any contribution to the commission of the crime, does not make a person an
accomplice. However, in some situations, knowledge combined with the failure to
make an attempt to prevent the crime will make one an accomplice. An accomplice
is normally regarded as just as culpable as the person who actually commits the
crime. See also accessory, aid and
abet, and conspiracy.
Webster's New World Law Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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