Let's say you had a spell that could send someone back to the past ( 500 years ago). One day you get tired of looking at a co-worker's smug face and you decide to cast your spell on them and as a result they are sent back 500 years ago. Let's also assume this causes no time ripples, nor prevents you from casting the spell in the first place.
My question is: "did you commit murder?"
By casting the spell you are ensuring that the person is dead after it has been cast on them. The person was alive when you met them, the spell hit them, now they are deceased. Even though your (ex)co-worker may have still lived a long and happy life in the past, your action caused them to be dead in the present, thus making you culpable for taking away their life in our time, even if that life might still have continued to be lived in the past.
Thoughts? This is not for a story, just a ramble.
My question is: "did you commit murder?"
By casting the spell you are ensuring that the person is dead after it has been cast on them. The person was alive when you met them, the spell hit them, now they are deceased. Even though your (ex)co-worker may have still lived a long and happy life in the past, your action caused them to be dead in the present, thus making you culpable for taking away their life in our time, even if that life might still have continued to be lived in the past.
Thoughts? This is not for a story, just a ramble.