criminal-law murder
Why was Charles Manson convicted of murder?
<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Manson" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Charles Manson</a>'s sentence is for first-degree murder. This is defined as</p>
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<p>&quot;any intentional murder that is willful and premeditated with malice aforethought. &quot;</p>
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<p>How can this be the case if he did not murder and only encouraged others to kill? Isn't his crime incitement at worst?</p>

<p>See <a href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&amp;sectionNum=31." rel="noreferrer">California Penal Code Section 31</a>:</p>

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  <p>All persons concerned in the commission of a crime, whether it be felony or misdemeanor, and whether they directly commit the act constituting the offense, or aid and abet in its commission, or, not being present, have <strong>advised and encouraged its commission</strong>, and all persons counseling, advising, or encouraging children under the age of fourteen years, or persons who are mentally incapacitated, to commit any crime, or who, by fraud, contrivance, or force, occasion the drunkenness of another for the purpose of causing him to commit any crime, or who, by threats, menaces, command, or coercion, compel another to commit any crime, <strong>are principals</strong> in any crime so committed.</p>
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