The Punishability of Impossible Attempts

Abstract

A resolved to kill X and equipped himself for this purpose with a bottle containing poison. When X dined at A's house, A secretly poured some of the contents of the bottle into a drink that he offered X. X downed the drink but suffered no ill-effects since A's wife had, without his knowledge, poured away the poison and filled the bottle with water (first case).B put his hand into Y's coat pocket in order to pick its contents. His fingers scoured the pocket and found it to be empty. Alternatively, B fired at an empty bed with intent to kill Y, who was supposed to be in it (second case).