Conspiracy to murder

Conspiracy to murder is a statutory offense defined by an agreement or plan, formed with the intent to commit murder, and it normally does not require that a murder actually take place, since prosecution can rest on the agreement and intent alone. In England and Wales, the offense specifically requires an intent to kill, so an intent only to cause grievous bodily harm, which would be sufficient for a murder conviction if a killing actually resulted, is not enough to sustain a charge of conspiracy to murder. Penalties vary substantially between jurisdictions, ranging up to ten years imprisonment in New Zealand and up to life imprisonment in England, Wales, Canada, and the United States.