Themis Essay 4897

Question 1

Felony murder is murder of the first degree and is defined as

Answer 1

a murder committed in the commission or attempted commission of arson, rape, forcible sodomy, inanimate or animate object sexual penetration, robbery, burglary, or abduction (kidnapping) except as otherwise provided in the aggravated murder statute.

Question 2

Felony murder may be intentional or unintentional, as long as

Answer 2

the death results from the acts in furtherance of one of the enumerated felonies.

Question 3

In Virginia, robbery is a

Answer 3

common-law crime.

Question 4

The elements of robbery as defined at common law are:

Answer 4

(i) the taking, (ii) with intent to steal, (iii) of the personal property of another, (iv) from his person or in his presence, (v) against his will, (vi) by violence or intimidation.

Question 5

A principal in the first degree is

Answer 5

a person whose acts or omissions are the actus reus of the crime.

Question 6

A principal in the first degree is typically

Answer 6

present at the scene of the crime.

Question 7

A principal in the second degree is a person who is present at the commission of a crime and

Answer 7

shares the principal in the first degree’s intent that the crime be committed or aids, abets, encourages, assists, or advises a principal in the first degree in the commission of the crime.

Question 8

In felony murder cases, every principal in the second degree may be

Answer 8

indicted, tried, convicted, and punished in the same manner as a principal in the first degree.

Question 9

A person is guilty of conspiracy if

Answer 9

he confederates or agrees with another to commit a felony.

Question 10

Virginia does not require an overt act to be performed to

Answer 10

complete a conspiracy; an agreement to commit a felony is sufficient.