Interesting legal question

[David64]

I was watching a YouTube short and someone asked the question : What if a conjoined twin committed murder ?

The premise being that if one of the twins committed murder, how do you punish them ? The answer is interesting because to punish the guilty one, you'd also punish the innocent one and that's unConstitutional.

You can't send BOTH of them to prison, much less give the death penalty. Even if it was home confinement, that could be challenged because you are restricting the Rights of the innocent. Monotoring, community service and a fine is about the worst they can do.

Turns out, if you're a conjoined twin, you can pretty much get away with murder.

[PorkChop96]

I was watching a YouTube short and someone asked the question : What if a conjoined twin committed murder ?

The premise being that if one of the twins committed murder, how do you punish them ? The answer is interesting because to punish the guilty one, you'd also punish the innocent one and that's unConstitutional.

You can't send BOTH of them to prison, much less give the death penalty. Even if it was home confinement, that could be challenged because you are restricting the Rights of the innocent. Monotoring, community service and a fine is about the worst they can do.

Turns out, if you're a conjoined twin, you can pretty much get away with murder.

Would they be charged with accessory? 

If I am in a car with someone and they commit a crime, I can be charged with accessory to that crime. Would it be the same situation?

[quintessentone]

Interestingly enough, it would depend on how their bodies are conjoined and brain level activity.

"Yes, conjoined twins can control their body parts separately, depending on their anatomy and how their nervous systems are connected. 

• In cases like Abby and Brittany Hensel, who are dicephalic parapagus twins, each twin controls one side of the shared body.  Each twin has full control over one arm and one leg, and they can perform tasks like eating or writing independently. 
  
• Their brains are separate, and each controls the limbs and functions on their respective side. For example, if you touch Brittany’s arm, Abby won’t feel it—sensory and motor control is limited to each twin’s half of the body. 
  
• However, they must coordinate movements for tasks like walking, running, or swimming, as both need to work together to move the shared body efficiently. 
  
• The degree of control varies widely among conjoined twins based on how they are joined and which organs and nerves are shared. In some cases, one twin may control more of the body, while in others, both may have partial control over different limbs.
  
• Both twins cannot simultaneously control the same limb, as each limb is connected to only one brain through a closed neural loop.  Conflicts in movement would be impossible to resolve, so coordination is learned from infancy. " (LLM)
  

https://www.medicaldaily.com/conjoined-t...ing-378876

[UltraBudgie]

aren't they automatically an accessory to murder?

seems like they deserve some prison time too

[David64]

Would they be charged with accessory? 

If I am in a car with someone and they commit a crime, I can be charged with accessory to that crime. Would it be the same situation?

I think it would depend on what lengths you went to to stop them ?

[Kurokage]

I was watching a YouTube short and someone asked the question : What if a conjoined twin committed murder ?

The premise being that if one of the twins committed murder, how do you punish them ? The answer is interesting because to punish the guilty one, you'd also punish the innocent one and that's unConstitutional.

You can't send BOTH of them to prison, much less give the death penalty. Even if it was home confinement, that could be challenged because you are restricting the Rights of the innocent. Monotoring, community service and a fine is about the worst they can do.

Turns out, if you're a conjoined twin, you can pretty much get away with murder.

That's an interesting dilemma.

Thoughts of forced surgical separation, or finding both guilty because the other twin allowed the murder to happen, so possible aiding and abetting?

[FlyersFan]

Would they be charged with accessory? 

If I am in a car with someone and they commit a crime, I can be charged with accessory to that crime. Would it be the same situation?

^^ This.

The twin that commits the murder can't do so without the cooperation of the 'innocent' twin.

[David64]

Interestingly enough, it would depend on how their bodies are conjoined and brain level activity.

"Yes, conjoined twins can control their body parts separately, depending on their anatomy and how their nervous systems are connected. 

• In cases like Abby and Brittany Hensel, who are dicephalic parapagus twins, each twin controls one side of the shared body.  Each twin has full control over one arm and one leg, and they can perform tasks like eating or writing independently. 
  
• Their brains are separate, and each controls the limbs and functions on their respective side. For example, if you touch Brittany’s arm, Abby won’t feel it—sensory and motor control is limited to each twin’s half of the body. 
  
• However, they must coordinate movements for tasks like walking, running, or swimming, as both need to work together to move the shared body efficiently. 
  
• The degree of control varies widely among conjoined twins based on how they are joined and which organs and nerves are shared. In some cases, one twin may control more of the body, while in others, both may have partial control over different limbs.
  
• Both twins cannot simultaneously control the same limb, as each limb is connected to only one brain through a closed neural loop.  Conflicts in movement would be impossible to resolve, so coordination is learned from infancy. " (LLM)
  

https://www.medicaldaily.com/conjoined-t...ing-378876

Right ?

I'd hate to be the lawyer, judge or jury on something like that.

[andy06shake]

Would they be charged with accessory? 

If I am in a car with someone and they commit a crime, I can be charged with accessory to that crime. Would it be the same situation?

That's a context question i suppose.

Depending on the situation.

Prosecution may depend on corroboration. 

If they choose to bear witness against the other half...

[David64]

^^ This.

The twin that commits the murder can't do so without the cooperation of the 'innocent' twin.

I dunno....In the case of Brittany and Abby they each control one side, so they could pick up a knife or gun and use it without the other being able to control them. I'd say it would have to do with the circumstances. Was it a planned murder or spur of the moment crime of passion ?....and, even if one twin planned it, the other wouldn't have to know about it.