What is required for someone to be charged with aiding and abetting?

In order for someone to be charged with aiding and abetting, it is essential that they have knowledge of the crime and provide assistance in its commission. This concept is rooted in the principle that even if an individual does not directly commit the crime, their support or facilitation of the criminal act can still make them criminally liable.

The law requires the person to have awareness of the criminal activity taking place, along with providing some form of help or encouragement, which could include anything from supplying tools, acting as a lookout, or even planning the crime with the perpetrator. This recognizes that all parties involved in the criminal enterprise share responsibility for the offense, not just the primary actor.

The other options do not fully capture the necessary elements of aiding and abetting; a direct role in the crime is not required, nor must the person commit the crime themselves. Simply witnessing a crime without action does not constitute aiding and abetting either, as it lacks the critical component of knowledge and assistance.