To secure a conviction for accessory after the fact, which condition must be proven?

In order to secure a conviction for accessory after the fact, it is necessary to prove that the accessory acted to impede the prosecution of the principal offender. This involves demonstrating that the individual provided assistance to someone who had already committed a crime, with the intention of helping that person avoid detection, arrest, or prosecution. The law sees this act as separate from the original crime but nonetheless significant because it subverts the justice process.

To fulfill this requirement, the prosecution must establish that the accessory knew that the principal had committed a crime and took steps to help them avoid the consequences of that crime. This could involve actions such as hiding the offender, providing false information, or helping to dispose of evidence. The focus is on the actions taken after the commission of the crime, rather than on the characteristics of the original offense or the accessory's intent regarding that crime.

The other choices explore different notions that are not foundational for the crime of accessory after the fact. Because the focus is on the act of impeding prosecution, these other factors do not meet the legal criteria necessary for a conviction in such cases.