# conspiracy to commit murder - did this act meet the criteria?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-to-commit-murder-did-this-act-meet-the-criteria/722771>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 17, 2015, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-to-commit-murder-did-this-act-meet-the-criteria/722771 "2015-06-17T18:36:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2015, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-to-commit-murder-did-this-act-meet-the-criteria/722771/1 "2015-06-17T18:36:04Z")

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New information from the DA about the NY prison escape.  
I italicized the relevant requirement. By aiding the escape (providing hand tools) would that alone be enough to satisfy the one overt act requirement? Do they need confirming testimony from one of the escapees that they planned to kill he husband in exchange for her help?

How hard would it be to make this charge stick? AFAIK she hasn’t (yet) been charged with conspiracy to commit murder.

> **[Criminal conspiracy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_%28criminal%29)**
>
> In criminal law, a conspiracy is an agreement between two or more people to commit a crime at some time in the future. Criminal law in some countries or for some conspiracies may require that at least one overt act be undertaken in furtherance of that agreement, to constitute an offense. There is no limit to the number participating in the conspiracy and, in most countries, the plan itself is the crime, so there is no requirement that any steps have been taken to put the plan into effect (comp

> [@](#):
>
> In criminal law, a conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to commit a crime at some time in the future. Criminal law in some countries or for some conspiracies\* may require that at least one overt act must also have been undertaken in furtherance of that agreement, to constitute an offense.\*

[http://news.yahoo.com/state-police-expand-search-escaped-murderers-ny-053422690.html#](http://news.yahoo.com/state-police-expand-search-escaped-murderers-ny-053422690.html#)

> [@](#):
>
> Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie said at a news conference that Joyce Mitchell had talked to inmates Richard Matt and David Sweat about the possibility of them killing her husband, Lyle.

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**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2015, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-to-commit-murder-did-this-act-meet-the-criteria/722771/2 "2015-06-17T19:35:39Z")

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I’d say yes. It’s as much an enabling of the act as giving them a ride to the victim’s location.

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2015, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-to-commit-murder-did-this-act-meet-the-criteria/722771/3 "2015-06-17T20:14:37Z")

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Did the police beat this out of her with a rubber hose under bright lights? Why on earth would she tell anyone?

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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2015, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-to-commit-murder-did-this-act-meet-the-criteria/722771/4 "2015-06-17T21:36:38Z")

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Since the OP is asking for opinions, this doesn’t belong in GQ. However, since the OP already has an existing thread on this matter in MPSIMS, where such opinions could just as well be solicited, I am going to close this rather than move it.

> **[Two prisoners escape using tactis similar to Escape from Alcatraz. I predict...](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=758841)**
>
> No one had ever escaped from maximum-security portion of the prison since it was built in 1865. Until this weekend. 😛 History was made that I think will be remembered just like the Escape from Alcatraz. I know these two are dangerous felons....

Colibri  
General Questions Moderator