Barry Epstein asked:
If the first attacker delivered a mortal blow but the second attacker actually ended his life, the second is liable to execution. Does the first one, who would've killed the person if the second one had [not] completed the job, get off without penalty?
Barry Epstein, Dallas, USA
The Kollel replies:
Yes. A blow is not a capital offense; only actually killing is (the first attacker is obligated, however, to pay monetary damages [to the heirs] for beating up the victim). If one throws someone off a roof and a chance passerby saves him, there is no punishment. Here, too, although the first murderer attempted to kill, he did not succeed; the second murderer "beat" him to it.
D. Zupnik