California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Medina, C083240 (Cal. App. 2018):
"When a jury receives substantial evidence that a witness who has implicated the defendant was an accomplice, a trial court on its own motion must instruct it on the principles regarding accomplice testimony. [Citation.] This includes instructing the jury that an accomplice's testimony implicating the defendant must be viewed with caution and corroborated by other evidence. [Citations.]" (People v. Houston (2012) 54 Cal.4th 1186, 1223.)
"The definition of an accomplice 'encompasses all principals to the crime including aiders and abettors and coconspirators.' [Citation.]" (People v. DeJesus (1995) 38 Cal.App.4th 1, 23 (DeJesus).) "To be an accomplice, one must act ' "with knowledge of the criminal purpose of the perpetrator and with an intent or purpose either of committing, or of encouraging, or facilitating commission of, the offense." ' [Citation.]" (Ibid.)
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