What is the test for a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in a criminal case?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Lemus, 203 Cal.App.3d 470, 249 Cal.Rptr. 897 (Cal. App. 1988):

"The thrust of the many constitutional rules governing the conduct of criminal trials is to ensure that those trials lead to fair and correct judgments. Where a reviewing court can find that the record developed at trial establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, the interest in fairness has been satisfied and the judgment should be affirmed. As we have repeatedly stated, 'the Constitution entitles a criminal defendant to a fair trial, not a perfect one.' [Citations.]" ( Rose v. Clark, supra, 106 S.Ct. at p. 3107.)

Thus, the appropriate analysis here is whether the error was "harmless beyond a reasonable doubt" under the standard of Chapman v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 18,

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