The abnormal step approach is a standard for distinguishing between preparation and attempt in a criminal case.Criminal Law - Cases and Materials, 7th ed. 2012, Wolters Kluwer Law & Business; John Kaplan, Robert Weisberg, Guyora Binder, , If a person takes a series of steps in preparation for a crime, then takes a step that a normal noncriminal person would have come to their good senses and held back from taking (an abnormal step), then that is evidence of an attempt.
See also Attempt Inchoate crime
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