A Los Angeles man is on trial in Orange County presently for that exact scenario. Vitaliy Krasnoperov is being accused of being an “aider and abettor” to one of the most gruesome murders in Orange County history.
He and two others are charged with murder plus special circumstances for their roles in the May 21, 2007, slayings of Jayprakash Dhanak, 56, and Karishma Dhanak, 20. The victims were abducted from their home, beaten and stabbed, and their bodies set on fire. Anaheim firefighters found Jayprakash’s wife, Leela Dhanak, unconscious on a neighbor’s lawn when they responded to a report that the Dhanak home was engulfed in flames. Leela Dhanak had been beaten and her throat slashed, but she survived the attack.
Prosecutors say the two men conspired with Iftekhar Murtaza, 26, of Van Nuys to kidnap and murder his ex-girlfriend’s father and sister.
Specifically with regards to Krasnoperov, though he wasn’t present for the killings, he is being prosecuted for murder under the legal theory that he was an “aider and abettor” for his alleged role in the planning and the cover-up, prosecutors say.
In the two months after Shayona Dhanak ended her romance with Murtaza, Krasnoperov encouraged, facilitated and joined a conspiracy to help murder the parents of the girl.
Jurors saw transcripts of Internet chat conversations starting within a day of the breakup on March 28, 2007, and continuing for weeks. Krasnoperov made suggestions about how to kill Shayona Dhanak’s parents, prosecutors said.
A criminal charge of aiding and abetting or accessory can usually be brought against anyone who helps in the commission of a crime, though legal distinctions vary by state. A person charged with aiding and abetting or accessory is usually not present when the crime itself is committed, but he or she has knowledge of the crime before or after the fact, and may assist in its commission through advice, actions, or financial support. Depending on the degree of involvement, the offender’s participation in the crime may rise to the level conspiracy as well.
If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime through and aiding and abetting theory, you should call the experienced attorneys at Wallin & Klarich immediately. Our attorneys have the skill and expertise to provide you with the best possible defense. The language of the statutes that govern aiding and abetting crimes can be complex and confusing. For this reason, it is important to hire an experienced attorney from Wallin & Klarich. Our attorneys can be reached by phone at 1-888-749-0034 or through our website www.wklaw.com.
