§702-223 - Liability for conduct of another; complicity with respect to the result. - Hawaii Statutes

     §702-223  Liability for conduct of another; complicity with respect to the result.  When causing a particular result is an element of an offense, an accomplice in the conduct causing the result is an accomplice in the commission of that offense, if the accomplice acts, with respect to that result, with the state of mind that is sufficient for the commission of the offense. [L 1972, c 9, pt of §1; gen ch 1993]

 

COMMENTARY ON §702-223

 

  This section is intended to make clear that a defendant charged, on the basis of the defendant's complicity in the conduct of another, with causing a particular result will not be allowed to escape accountability for the result because the defendant solicited or aided, etc., a different or more limited result if the defendant had the requisite state of mind with respect to the actual result.

  Thus, for example, one who urges a driver to increase the speed of an automobile, disregarding known risks to pedestrians, would stand in the same position as the driver on a charge of reckless homicide and would not be allowed to defend on the ground that one solicited the violation of the traffic law and not the homicide law.

 

Case Notes

 

  Instruction on law of principals and accomplices was not erroneous.  59 H. 625, 586 P.2d 250.

  Accomplice in commission of robbery.  62 H. 25, 608 P.2d 855.