You don't have to pull the trigger
Recent convictions for murder and manslaughter were given by jury due to the "Law of Parties". This means that if you and your mates do over a service station with an expectation that violence may be involved, you could be charged with the most serious crimes committed by your group.
This law could cause a miscarriage of justice, but it would appear that in this case, it was more than justified:
Falealii gave evidence for the Crown, admitting that he was a cold-blooded killer.
But he claimed Samoa and Johansson schooled him in the art of armed robbery, gave him the gun, fed him the drug methamphetamine and drove him to and from the hold-ups, telling him to shoot anyone who gave him trouble.
Should offenders or potential offenders now be concerned that their mates may land them in jail even if they have not groomed an offender to kill.
We believe so, the earlier conviction of a getaway driver in the RSA triple murder, of manslaughter, when he did not even enter the building, indicates that culpability may attach itself to the conspiracy stage of events rather than the commission stage.
Big brutal psychotic murderers high on P may form unresolvable arguments at the time the crime is being planned. Domination and abuse are normal for such "leaders" who may involve a weaker person on a venture they have no control over.
See: New Zealand News - NZ - Accomplices share blame under common intent law
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