He or she didn’t physically commit murder (due to them being wheelchair bound) as he or she’s paralyzed meaning they’re unable to move but conveys criminal activity to someone who has hands & feet as well as being able bodied, so only the accomplice commits the crime but the real mastermind is a disabled person.
It’s closer to “giving orders to another person committing a crime” or “paying them money on exchange of assassinating someone” since the mastermind plotted the intent to murder for someone to do it for him or her than actually engaging in the crime themselves. However despite that, should they be sentenced even with a disability?
However, will they really receive a longer sentence for just endorsing murder (but he or she didn’t kill someone directly) rather gave the instruction to another person doing it on their behalf? There is evidence one can use against them: phone conversations, chat rooms, voice memos showcasing their plot on murdering someone.
At first it may seem circumstantial unless you either have an official recorded phone call or verified text from the mastermind saying: “I’ll pay you $5,000,000 for killing (victim)” or “Take out (victim)” which confirms their involvement and plot to murder someone regardless if he or she is able bodied or disabled, there is no excuse for it.
If the mastermind bribed the accomplice, you need solid proof: bank withdrawals, deposits or digital statements. The red flags are either frequent bank visits, cash deposits or withdrawals correlating with the murder taking place along with the bank employees being witnesses confirming their frequent visitations for withdrawing huge amounts.
That in itself doesn’t sound like a crime, but may raise some alarm bells if the mastermind visits 5 days a week asking to withdraw $10,000 in cash every time they show up ($50,000 a week until they reach $5,000,000 in total). They may get suspicious if the same person withdraws large sums every day (i.e. money laundering?)
If the mastermind paid the accomplice in “dirty money” (cash): this may be difficult to trace apart from frequent withdrawals of large sums as mentioned from previous paragraph. The only breakthrough if the huge cash pile is found at the accomplice’s address when their property is searched for potential evidence linking their involvement.
If the mastermind sent the payment digitally: the accomplice’s bank account states they received a $5,000,000 e-transfer from the mastermind’s account sent right after the murder took place, meaning the accomplice was paid to commit the crime by the mastermind, further solidifying their involvement, as it’s closer to an assassination.