What is the test for a defendant to establish murder by lying in wait?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Russell, 117 Cal.Rptr.3d 615, 242 P.3d 68, 50 Cal.4th 1228 (Cal. 2010):

2 The rejected portion of defendant's requested instruction stated, "To establish murder by lying-in-wait the prosecution must prove the elements of concealment of purpose together with 'a substantial period of watching and waiting for an opportune time to act, and ... immediately thereafter, a surprise attack on an unsuspecting victim from a position of advantage' " (relying on and citing People v. Ruiz (1988) 44 Cal.3d 589, 615, 244 Cal.Rptr. 200, 749 P.2d 854, and People v. Mattison (1971) 4 Cal.3d 177, 183, 93 Cal.Rptr. 185, 481 P.2d 193).

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