Missouri Jury Instruction — Aiding AnAbettingin— - Agency - 1 8 USC Sect. 2 is a legal instruction provided to juries in Missouri courts when a defendant is charged with aiding and abetting a crime based on the theory of agency, as outlined in Title 18, United States Code (USC) Section 2. This jury instruction is crucial in cases where the prosecution alleges that the defendant, although not the primary actor, assisted, facilitated, or encouraged the commission of a criminal offense through a principal or agent relationship. The instruction focuses on the concept of agency, which refers to the legal relationship between two parties where one acts on behalf of, or under the control of, another. Several types of Missouri Jury Instruction — Aiding AnAbettingin— - Agency - 1 8 USC Sect. 2 instructions may be used depending on the specific circumstances of the case. They include: 1. Basic Instruction: This instruction provides an overview of the elements the jury must consider when determining whether the defendant aided and abetted a crime through an agency relationship. It highlights the need to establish a principal-agent relationship, the defendant's intentional participation in the crime, and their intent to aid or encourage the principal offender. 2. Elements of Agency Relationship: This instruction outlines the essential elements necessary to establish an agency relationship between the defendant and the principal offender. It may include factors such as control, authority, consent, and the manifestation of the principal-agent relationship. 3. Knowledge and Intent: This instruction focuses on the defendant's mental state, emphasizing that they must have had knowledge of the principal offender's unlawful intent and purposefully intended to encourage or assist in the commission of the crime through the agency relationship. 4. Withdrawal as a Defense: In certain cases, a defendant may argue that they withdrew their participation from the agency relationship before the commission of the crime. This instruction outlines the conditions under which withdrawal can be considered a valid defense and instructs the jury on assessing the credibility of the defendant's claim. It is important to note that the specific jury instructions used in a trial will depend on the facts and legal arguments presented by both the prosecution and defense. Therefore, the use of these instructions may vary from case to case. Overall, Missouri Jury Instruction — Aiding AnAbettingin— - Agency - 1 8 USC Sect. 2 provides guidance to the jury in understanding the legal principles and elements necessary to establish the defendant's guilt or innocence in aiding and abetting a crime through an agency relationship as defined by Title 18, USC Section 2.