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Abet

Encouraging or inciting another to do a certain thing, such as a crime.

For example, many countries will punish a person who aids or abets another to commit a crime as severely as they punish the primary offender.

In R v Greyeyes 1997 2 SCR 825, Canada's highest court stated, in the context of the Canadian Criminal Code:

"The terms aiding and abetting are often used together in the context of determining whether persons are parties to an offence.  Although the meanings of these terms are similar, they are  separate concepts. To aid ... means to assist or help the actor. To abet ... includes encouraging, instigating, promoting or procuring the crime to be committed."

In R v Twigge, 1997 5 WWR 572, Saskatchewan's Court of Appeal said that "to abet another is basically to encourage the other".

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Unless otherwise noted, this article was written by Lloyd Duhaime, Barrister, Solicitor, Attorney and Lawyer (and Notary Public!). It is not intended to be legal advice and you would be foolhardy to rely on it in respect to any specific situation you or an acquaintance may be facing. In addition, the law changes rapidly and sometimes with little notice so from time to time, an article may not be up to date. Therefore, this is merely legal information designed to educate the reader. If you have a real situation, this information will serve as a good springboard to get legal advice from a lawyer.

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