Principal And Accessory (or Accessory) - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition principal-and-accessory-or-accessory

Definition :

Principal and accessory (or accessory). (1) Principals in offences are of two degrees: (a) of the first degree, i.e., the actual perpetrators of the crime; (b) of the second degree, i.e., those who are present, aiding and abetting the act to be done.

Accessories are not the chief actors in the offence, nor present at its performance, but are in some way concerned therein, either before or after the fact is committed. See ACCESSORY.