Co-conspirator - Kyodoseihan

It means "two or more people working together to commit a crime" (Article 60 of the Penal Code). Along with instigation and accessory (assistance), it is a form of complicity (in a broad sense). Joint principals are treated as "all principals."

In order for joint criminal liability to be established, objectively, there must be cooperation in the commission of the act (the fact of joint perpetration), and subjectively, there must be communication of the intention to commit the crime (the intention to commit jointly).

(1) Fact of joint execution Since it is necessary for two or more persons to jointly execute a specific crime, joint criminal liability cannot be established even if they share in acts other than the act of execution or jointly execute different crimes. However, for example, in the case of robbery, when one person assaults or threatens the victim and another person steals his property, it is sufficient for the act of execution to be satisfied as a whole by each actor's share in the act of execution. In addition, in Japanese precedents, the theory of joint criminal liability of conspiracy is widely adopted, which states that since two or more persons participate in a "conspiracy" to execute a crime, if some of these persons actually carry out the act of execution, all of the conspirators are held liable for joint criminal liability. However, since the fact of joint execution is lacking, it would be sufficient to recognize the establishment of instigation or accessory depending on the nature of the conspiracy, rather than joint criminal liability.

(2) Intent to Commit a Crime Because each actor must have the intention to jointly commit a specific crime, not only is there no intention to commit a crime that is negligent and lacks the intention (intention) to commit the crime, but even in cases of intentional crimes, this intention cannot be recognized between different crimes unless the constituent elements overlap (for example, theft and robbery). In particular, there are some academic theories and legal precedents that affirm joint criminal liability for negligent crimes, but it should be interpreted as simultaneous criminal liability for negligent crimes. In addition, because communication of intention is required between actors, so-called unilateral joint criminal liability based on a unilateral intention to commit a crime is merely simultaneous criminal liability and not joint criminal liability.

[Tetsuro Nawa]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

「二人以上共同して犯罪を実行した」ことをいう（刑法60条）。教唆犯、従犯（幇助(ほうじょ)犯）とともに共犯（広義）の一形態。共同正犯は「すべて正犯」として処分される。

　共同正犯が成立するためには、客観的に、実行行為を共同すること（共同実行の事実）、および主観的にも当該犯罪を実行するにつき意思の連絡（共同実行の意思）を要する。

(1)共同実行の事実　2人以上の者が特定の犯罪を共同して実行することを要するから、実行行為以外の行為を分担したり、異なる犯罪の実行行為を共同に行っても、共同正犯は成立しえない。ただ、たとえば強盗罪につき、ある者が被害者に暴行・脅迫を加え、他の者が財物を奪取する場合のように、各行為者が実行行為の一部を分担することにより、全体として実行行為が満たされれば足りる。なお、わが国の判例では、2人以上の者がある犯罪を実行することの「共謀」に参加した以上、この一部の者が現に実行行為に出れば、共謀者の全員が共同正犯の責任を問われる、という共謀共同正犯の理論を広く採用している。しかし、共謀者は共同実行の事実を欠く以上、共同正犯ではなく、共謀の性格に応じて、教唆犯または従犯の成立を認めれば足りるであろう。

(2)共同実行の意思　各行為者相互に特定の犯罪を共同して実行する意思を要するから、犯罪を実行する意思（故意）を欠く過失犯には、共同実行の意思が存在しえないばかりでなく、故意犯であっても、異なる犯罪間については、構成要件が重ならない限り（たとえば窃盗と強盗）、この意思を認めることはできない。とくに過失犯の共同正犯については、これを肯定する学説や判例もみられるが、むしろ過失犯の同時犯と解すべきであろう。また行為者相互に意思の連絡を要するから、一方的な共同実行の意思に基づくいわゆる片面的共同正犯は、共同正犯ではなく同時犯にすぎない。

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