Opinion ID: 2821364
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Aiding and Abetting Homicide by Child Abuse.

Text: The Court of Appeals reversed both petitioners' convictions for aiding and abetting homicide by child abuse, stating simply we find the State presented no direct evidence and insubstantial circumstantial evidence that either Palmer or Gorman knowingly undertook any action to aid or abet that abuse. State v. Palmer, 408 S.C. at 234, 758 S.E.2d at 205. The State contends the Court of Appeals erred in reversing these convictions. We disagree. A person aids and abets homicide by child abuse under S.C. Code Ann. § 16-3- 85(A)(2) (2003) when he knowingly aids and abets another person to commit child abuse or neglect [which] results in the death of a child under the age of eleven. The State would have the Court speculate, despite the absence of any evidence, that both petitioners actually entered the victim's bedroom around 4:30 pm where one abused him in the presence of the other, who thus aided and abetted the perpetrator by failing to seek medical help for an hour and a half. Compare Smith, supra. There is no evidence other than rank speculation that such an incident occurred. Moreover, while omission which causes harm can constitute aiding and abetting child abuse or neglect (§ 16-3-85(B)(1)), there is no evidence that more prompt treatment would have mitigated the victim's injuries and thus we do not perceive potential liability for the non-abuser even if he or she were aware of the abuse. For this reason, even were there evidence that Palmer had hurt the victim during the day while alone, there is no evidence that any delay in seeking medical attention by Gorman caused the victim harm beyond that inflicted by the perpetrator. Finally, State v. Lewis, 403 S.C. 345, 743 S.E.2d 124 (Ct. App. 2013) cert. dismissed as improvidently granted 411 S.C. 647, 770 S.E.2d 398 (2015), establishes that neither knowledge of another's intent to commit a crime nor failure to act to stop abuse are sufficient to deny a directed verdict on a charge of aiding and abetting homicide by child abuse. Lewis, 403 S.C. at 356, 743 S.E.2d at 129130. We therefore affirm the Court of Appeals' decision to reverse the trial court's denial of each petitioner's motion for a directed verdict on the charge of aiding and abetting homicide by child abuse.