Q: How is it possible to get convicted as an accessory to murder when the primary person involved gets manslaughter
The guy who actually took the life took a plea for second degree manslaughter. His buddy who goes to trial is convicted of accessory to the crime of murder. How is it possible to do that if there is no murder conviction?
A: Each case is independent of the other in terms of outcome. A plea of guilty by person who took a plea deal does not preclude a jury in a related case from finding the defendant guilty of the offense(s) charged in the related case. In other words, just because one person pled to manslaughter does not prevent a jury in the other case from deciding, based on the evidence in the case, that a murder was committed.
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