What is the prosecutor's burden of proving that appellant acted as the direct perpetrator or as an aider and abettor in CALCRIM No. 401?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Dearcos, B223805 (Cal. App. 2011):

As the People point out, CALCRIM No. 401 required the prosecutor to prove that appellant acted as the direct perpetrator or as an aider and abettor. As to the theory of aiding and abetting, the prosecutor had to prove that: (1) the perpetrator murdered the victim; (2) appellant knew that the perpetrator intended to commit murder; (3) appellant intended to aid and abet the perpetrator in the commission of those offenses; and (4) in fact aided and abetted the perpetrator by words or actions. (See People v. Alexander, supra, 49 Cal.4th at p. 921 [jurors are not required to agree unanimously on whether a defendant was "the shooter" or another "participant in the crime"].) The jury was also instructed regarding the prosecutor's burden of proof and the standard of proving the crimes beyond a reasonable doubt. Finally, the jury was required to make special findings as to whether appellant personally used, intentionally discharged, and proximately caused great bodily injury or death with a firearm. Viewing the instructions as a whole, there is no reasonable likelihood that the jury applied the challenged instructions in a way that violated appellant's due process rights. In reviewing a jury instruction for constitutional error, courts consider "'whether there is a reasonable likelihood that the jury has applied the challenged instruction in a way' that violates the

Page 15

Other Questions


Is there insufficient evidence to support a claim that Simons acted as an aider and abettor or a perpetrator or perpetrator under the Civil Rights Act? (California, United States of America)
In what circumstances will a perpetrator and aider and abettor be convicted of second degree murder at the same trial of the perpetrator and the perpetrator be reduced to manslaughter? (California, United States of America)
Is appellant liable as a result of the Attorney General's argument that appellant acted as an aider and abettor? (California, United States of America)
Does the aider and abettor doctrine apply to the direct perpetrator? (California, United States of America)
What is the burden of proving an aider and abettor in a murder case? (California, United States of America)
Can a defendant be held liable as a direct perpetrator or an aider and abettor for murder? (California, United States of America)
What is the test for determining whether a person is guilty of a crime as a direct perpetrator or as an aider and abettor? (California, United States of America)
Can imperfect self-defense apply to a direct perpetrator and not the aider and abettor? (California, United States of America)
Does an aider and abettor have to be convicted for crimes committed by the direct perpetrator? (California, United States of America)
Does the prosecutor misstate the law when she claimed that she did not have to prove that appellant acted in self-defense? (California, United States of America)
X



Alexi white


"The most advanced legal research software ever built."

Trusted by top litigators from across North America.