en grado de coparticipación

Question

I was reading a Spanish language newspaper and I came across a phrase I have never seen before. The article was about a murder suspect, and it said:

"(name of the suspect) es acusado del homicidio, en grado de coparticipación, (name of the victim)"

the phrase I am wondering about is "en grado de coparticipación" I understand the individual words to mean "in degree of co-participation" but I was wondering if this phrase was referencing a formal charge like murder in the first degree.

Thanks for feeding my curiosity.

Answer 1

I think it means that the murder suspect is acused of joint participation or acting in concert with another partner.

yes, I deduced this as well, I was just wondering if this was the name of a formal charge. As we have "voluntary manslaughter" "Murder in the 1st or 2nd degree" It was a Mexican newspaper. - deedeegill72, Mar 21, 2014

I agree, Luis. - annierats, Mar 21, 2014

I am mexican, but since I am not a lawyer I don´t know if this is a legal term or a formal charge, or just a kind of jargon, so to speak. I saw the piece of news too. - LuisCache, Mar 21, 2014

Thanks. :) - deedeegill72, Mar 25, 2014

Answer 2

Deedee, I think it just means he was not the instigator of the crime, just a willing participant. Nothing to do with if it was manslaughter or murder.

Manslaughter=homocidio involuntario

Thanks for the explanation, I didn´t know the difference. - LuisCache, Mar 21, 2014

like "accesory to murder" - deedeegill72, Mar 25, 2014