Does a mistake in the instruction in a murder case affect the entire trial?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Cox, E059481 (Cal. App. 2015):

15. The instruction did not deny defendant his right to a fair trial. Any error in the instruction's reference to the evidence as relevant to prove defendant's intent to commit murder, "did not 'infect[] the entire trial.'" (People v. Foster, supra, 50 Cal.4th at p. 1335.)

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