Re: Marathon Killers Apprehended: the Aftermath
The bombs killed people. Who is responsible, the person who built it, the person who placed it, the person who procured the materials, the person who drove it to the site, the person who funded the activity, the person who looked up how to build it, the person who shopped and cooked the food they ate while building the bomb?
Not sure I agree with the "she didn't kill anyone" line of thinking.
She never took the "last act" (i.e. pulling the trigger/detonating the device/etc.). I fully agree that she was culpable and deserved to go to prison; however, she did not kill anyone because she never took that last act regardless of her intent. That is why she was charged with (and rightfully convicted of) Felony Murder as opposed to a different form of murder/homicide.
Imagine this hypothetical. Two people (A and B) conspire to rob the bank. They recruit a third person (C) to come pick them up at a specific time/place following the robbery. For this hypothetical, C knows A and B's plan to rob the bank, including the fact that A and B will not have a weapon of any sort. A and B go to the Bank, tell the teller that they have a bomb placed in the bank, and to fill a bag full of money. After getting the bag of money, A and B run out of the Bank. While running out, an undercover cop pulls out a gun, and fires at A and B. The shot ricochets off the floor, and kills innocent bystander D. A and B then successfully get out of the bank, and meet up with C who drives them to their getaway location.
Is C a killer?
What if A and B planned to use weapons and C knew about the use of those weapons, is C now a killer?
What if A and B planned to use weapons but C didn't know about that part of it, is C now a killer?
What if it was A that fired at the cop, and killed D, is C now a killer?
What if instead D dying, the teller has a heart attack and dies after hearing A and B's request...is C now a killer?
In short, depending on the state, C may be convicted of felony murder in all of these scenarios. However, in no way was C the killer in any of these scenarios.