California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Rosencrans, G055870 (Cal. App. 2019):
"Attempted murder requires the specific intent to kill and the commission of a direct but ineffectual act toward accomplishing the intended killing. [Citations.]" (People v. Lee (2003) 31 Cal.4th 613, 623.) A jury may infer the requisite specific intent from the defendant's acts and the overall circumstances of the crime. (Smith, supra, 37 Cal.4th at p. 741.) Moreover, while motive is not an element of a criminal offense, "evidence of motive is often probative of intent to kill." (Ibid.)
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