Liability of an accessory for offences:
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Introduction
According to the England and Wales criminal law (Criminal Law Act 1977), an accessory is any person who assists in the performance or commission of criminal activity. However, the person does not participate in the actual performance of the crime as a joint principal. On the other hand, the principal is the person who actually committed the crime. Legally, a principal is usually accompanied by a guilty mind in committing the guilty act. Hence, the most important thing is to distinguish the principal from an accessory. The court will determine whether the defendant contributed independently in causing the guilty act or the defendant caused the guilty act through giving generalized or limited help. The law requires that any person who assists in any way or form towards the performance of any indictable offence shall be liable to be indicted or punished under the law as a principal offender. This is explained in the case of R V J.F.Alford Transport Limited (1997)
