Can a jury convict a defendant of second degree murder under the second degree felony-murder rule?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Smith, 233 Cal.Rptr.3d 1, 4 Cal.5th 1134, 417 P.3d 662 (Cal. 2018):

Defendant argues that the trial court should have instructed the jury that it could convict him of second degree murder under the second degree felony-murder rule, based on the theory that he killed Rexford in the commission of discharging a firearm in a grossly negligent manner, a felony. ( Pen. Code, 246.3.) But after defendant filed his opening brief, we held that a second degree felony-murder conviction may not be based on a violation of section 246.3. ( People v. Chun (2009) 45 Cal.4th 1172, 1200, 91 Cal.Rptr.3d 106, 203 P.3d 425.)

Other Questions


Can a jury convict a defendant of second degree murder under the second degree felony-murder rule? (California, United States of America)
Can a defendant seek to overturn a conviction for second-degree murder by appealing against the finding that the trial court failed to instruct on the charge of second degree murder? (California, United States of America)
What is the test for a jury to convict a defendant of second degree murder (Pen. Code, 1. 187) of second-degree murder (e.g. shod feet)? (California, United States of America)
In what circumstances will a prosecutor be found guilty of misconduct for making an argument to the jury that the jury must convict a defendant of second-degree murder before it returns a verdict on a charge of first degree murder? (California, United States of America)
What is the test for a jury to convict appellant of second degree murder based solely on evidence of the crime of second-degree murder? (California, United States of America)
Does the fact that a defendant in the first-degree murder case was convicted of second degree murder have any bearing in determining the outcome of the trial? (California, United States of America)
Is a defendant's argument that he is not guilty of the crime of second degree murder of a fetus challenge his guilt of second-degree murder? (California, United States of America)
Can a jury still convict a defendant of second degree second-degree murder if he shot his wife while committing an assault with a deadly weapon? (California, United States of America)
In what circumstances will the Court reverse the conviction of defendant in the second-degree murder trial of a man convicted of the crime of murder for making false statements about the crime scene? (California, United States of America)
What is the unanimity required for a jury to convict a defendant of murder of the first degree or second degree? (California, United States of America)
X



Alexi white


"The most advanced legal research software ever built."

Trusted by top litigators from across North America.