Legal Question in Criminal Law in New York

re; murder for hire

SET UP --I am writng a script in which the villianess pays for and arranges a murder for hire. Before she arranges to have the victim shot she induces analyphylatic shock by slipping the victim a substance he is allergic to ie peanut oil. He slips into unconsciousness and she then has him shot elsewhere by a second party.

QUESTION --What would she be charged with and what would her sentence be if she confessed in exchange for a lesser sentence? And what would the actual shooter be charged with if the vic is already in a coma, he gives up information and provides the murder weapon and other essential evidence to the detectives? thanks !


Asked on 4/02/03, 4:33 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Steven Brand Steven Brand, Attorney at Law

Re: re; murder for hire

The answer is: it really depends. It depends on the state, it depends on the district attorney's willingness to deal and if so how much.

If the person is indeed shot dead, both would be liable for conspiracy to commit murder. It is irrelevant that the victim was in a coma when shot dead. This fact does not lessen the level of culpability for the shooter. Both would be subject to other charges depnding upon the creativity of the district attorney's office. The shooter would be charged with murder. The posisoning villainess would be charged with some degree of manslaughter for placing the victim in a coma.

Good luck.

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Answered on 4/02/03, 4:40 pm
Lyle Johnson Bedi and Johnson Attorneys at Law

Re: re; murder for hire

The person hiring the person to kill the victim, could be charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solication of murder.

The fact that she fed the victim something that she knew would result in death or a coma could be charged with attempted murder for that act.

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Answered on 4/02/03, 9:08 pm


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