Accomplice Mens Rea and Actus Reus Self-Quiz
The state legislature has
recently passed a law making it illegal to “use unlawful force against
another person with the intent of permanently depriving them of their
personal property.” Bill and Hillary put together a plan to rob
the First National Bank of Little Rock. The plan calls for Bill to actually
enter the bank and execute the plan while Hillary waits in the getaway
car. Bill plans to take the money that they steal, hide it in an off-shore
account and live happily ever after on the Caribbean. Hillary plans to
take her share of the money, invest in some land that her friend Jordan
has told her about and then return the money she took back to the bank.
If Bill and Hillary are caught and charged with robbery and accessory
to robbery, the result will probably be:
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Bill and Hillary want to
commit the crime of the century so they put together a plan to rob the
United States gold reserve at Fort Knox. They carefully put the plan together
and spend months revising it and practicing for the big day. On the day
of the robbery, Bill goes off to carry out the plan while Hillary waits
at home for him to return. Bill successfully carries out the robbery but
is caught a few days later. Bill is charged with the actual robbery and
Hillary is charged, separately, with being an accessory to the robbery.
Due the weakness of the prosecution’s case, Bill is acquitted of
the robbery. However, since the prosecution’s case is strong, they
will probably be able to convict Hillary as an accomplice if they bring
her to trial (modern rule):
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Bill and Hillary want to
commit the crime of the century so they put together a plan to rob the
United States gold reserve at Fort Knox. They carefully put the plan together
and spend months revising it and practicing for the big day. On the day
of the robbery, Bill goes off to carry out the plan while Hillary waits
at home for him to return. Bill successfully carries out the robbery but
is caught a few days later. Bill is charged with the actual robbery and
Hillary is charged, separately, with being an accessory to the robbery.
Although the prosecution’s case against Bill is air-tight, Bill
is acquitted of the robbery due to a technicality. However, since the
prosecution’s case is strong, they will probably be able to convict
Hillary as an accomplice if they bring her to trial (modern rule):
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