Engaging with one or more persons in a plan to commit a crime, followed by an act to carry out that plan.

In most legal systems, an (the person who assists) is often held as legally responsible as the principal (the person who physically commits the crime). This is based on the principle that the crime would not have occurred—or would have been harder to commit—without the abettor's influence or help. 3. Abettal vs. Aiding While closely related, there is a subtle distinction:

They helped without knowing a crime was being planned. Duress: They were forced to help under threat of harm.

For an act to constitute abettal, three primary elements must generally be present:

Persuading a person to commit perjury (lying under oath) in court. 5. Defenses A person charged with abettal might argue: