Why was a man charged for murder when he was nowhere close to the victim.?

Question

In Missouri a State Trooper was speeding on the interstate to get to the aid of fellow officers who were attempting to catch a known criminal that was about 50 miles from his station. About 15 miles from were he left, he crashed into a stalled tractor trailer and got killed. The criminal was caught and tried for his crime plus the crime of murder . Why was he tried for murder when he was 50 miles away ?

Answer 1

In Missouri, a person is guilty of second degree murder if (s)he:

Commits or attempts to commit any felony, and, in the perpetration or the attempted perpetration of such felony or in the flight from the perpetration or attempted perpetration of such felony, another person is killed as a result of the perpetration or attempted perpetration of such felony or immediate flight from the perpetration of such felony or attempted perpetration of such felony.

This means that if someone gets killed as a result of your committing any felony, you are guilty of murder. The trooper would not be dead if not for the suspect committing his crime, therefore he is on trial for 2nd degree murder.

Answer 2

Likely, Missouri law allows for a suspect to be charged with murder for deaths that occur as a result of the primary crime for which he is charged. I'd look it up but it's late.

Answer 3

The fact remains the officer died in the attempt to catch the prep. this makes him responsible for the death, because if he had not committed the crime the situation would not have presented itself for the officer to die.

Answer 4

This is what's called "Felony Murder." A death that was incidental to a crime.

Answer 5

I'll defer to the answers above mine and add that being tried and being convicted, on these facts, are two very different things.

Answer 6

Because he is a peice of dirt!