If Joe and David are involved in a robbery and Tom kills David, what charge does Joe face?

In this scenario, Joe is involved in a robbery with David, and during the commission of that robbery, Tom kills David. The charge that Joe faces is Felony Murder. This legal principle holds that if a death occurs during the commission of a felony, such as robbery, all participants in that felony can be charged with murder, regardless of whether they directly caused the death or intended it.

The doctrine of Felony Murder applies here because the death of David happened in the course of committing the robbery, making Joe criminally liable for that murder as part of the felony. It reflects the legal theory that individuals engaging in a dangerous crime should bear the responsibility for any foreseeable consequences, including death, that result from that criminal activity.

Thus, in this case, since the robbery was the context in which Tom killed David, Joe’s involvement in the robbery directly attaches him to the charge of Felony Murder, even if he did not pull the trigger or intend for anyone to die. This underscores the importance of understanding the implications of engaging in felonious behavior and the extreme responsibilities that can arise from it.