Following a theme in Harris County, prosecutors obtained a conviction against a defendant who served as a lookout on a robbery, leading to the death of an officer through friendly fire. For details, check out the article.

The theme is that you will be held responsible for the logical consequences of your criminal actions, even if you didn't consciously predict that they could happen (for a similar theme, see the thread for Murder by DWI).

The defense loudly proclaimed that this can't happen in America. Why not? A plain reading of the Penal Code seems to say its exactly how criminal responsibility laws work. Anyone have a different opinion?

For the victim's opinion on whether a defendant should be convicted as a lookout, check out today's Houston Chronicle.