What is the test for error in instructing the jury that it could not convict a defendant on the testimony of an accomplice at the guilt phase of a trial?

California, United States of America

The following excerpt is from People v. Mata, F061132 (Cal. App. 2012):

"Error in failing to instruct the jury on consideration of accomplice testimony at the guilt phase of a trial constitutes state-law error, and a reviewing court must evaluate whether it is reasonably probable that such error affected the verdict. [Citation.]" (People v. Williams (2010) 49 Cal.4th 405, 456.) "Any error in failing to instruct the jury that it could not convict [a] defendant on the testimony of an accomplice alone is harmless if there is evidence corroborating the accomplice's testimony. '"Corroborating evidence may be slight, may be entirely circumstantial, and need not be sufficient to establish every element of the charged offense."' [Citation.]" (Ibid.)

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