tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5755524526422982739.post2122514292920805252..comments2023-11-02T00:42:46.460-07:00Comments on Save Kenneth Foster!: Kenneth's Letter to Governor Perry Published in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Star-TelegramThe Campaign to End the Death Penaltyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15791303390851005029noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5755524526422982739.post-23017399175482045832007-08-12T12:43:00.000-07:002007-08-12T12:43:00.000-07:00There seesm to be some confusion, regarding the la...There seesm to be some confusion, regarding the law of parties.<BR/><BR/>Under the law of parties, a person is criminally responsible as a party to an offense committed by the conduct of another if the person acts with an intent to promote or assist in the commission of the offense, and solicits, encourages, directs, aids, or attempts to aid another person to commit the offense. Tex.Pen.Code Ann. § 7.02(a)(2)(Vernon 2003). In evaluating whether a defendant is a party to an offense, the court may examine the events occurring before, during, or after the offense is committed and may rely on the defendant's actions showing an understanding and common design to commit the offense. See Marable v. State, 85 S.W.3d 287, 293 (Tex.Crim.App.2002). Mere presence at the scene of a crime does not implicate an individual as a party. However, participation in a criminal offense may be inferred from the circumstances. Beardsley v. State, 738 S.W.2d 681, 684 (Tex.Crim.App.1987). Circumstantial evidence alone may be sufficient to show that an individual is a party to an offense. See Miranda v. State, 813 S.W.2d 724, 732 (Tex.App. San Antonio 1991, pet. ref'd).dudleysharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12796468204722853648noreply@blogger.com