# 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")\
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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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