Can a slight misstatement by a prosecutor be rendered harmless by the court's proper instruction to the jury?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Bonadie, G050684 (Cal. App. 2015):

"A slight misstatement of law by a prosecutor can be rendered harmless by the court's proper instruction to the jury" (United States v. Mendoza (9th Cir. 2001) 244 F.3d 1037, 1045), but here the prosecutor incorrectly eliminated consideration of defendant's delusions on all but the issue of premeditation and deliberation, and defense counsel did not object. Indeed, defense counsel appeared to have the same

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