Does a jury need to prove intent to kill to get a death penalty in a felony-murder case?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Chavez, 218 Cal.Rptr. 49, 39 Cal.3d 823, 705 P.2d 372 (Cal. 1985):

4 My own view is that neither the federal nor the state Constitution requires proof of intent to kill to impose the death penalty in felony-murder cases. (People v. Whitt (1984) 36 Cal.3d 724 at pp. 749-751, 205 Cal.Rptr. 810, 685 P.2d 1161 [dis. opn. of Lucas, J.].) A fortiori, the absence of jury instructions on intent to kill should not require reversal of the special circumstances finding. However, the majority view is otherwise and controls this case.

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