Can an aider and abettor who knowingly assists a confederate to kill someone be found guilty of first degree murder?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Bonilla, B249622 (Cal. App. 2014):

"An aider and abettor who knowingly and intentionally assists a confederate to kill someone could be found to have acted willfully, deliberately, and with premeditation, having formed his own culpable intent. Such an aider and abettor, then, acts with the mens rea required for first degree murder." (People v. Chiu (2014) 59 Cal.4th 155, 167.)

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