Criminal Law Lecture Outline - Fall 2008

Criminal Law

Fall 2008

Section 1

Professor Lee

Course Outline

September 30, 2008

HOMICIDE, cont'd.

FELONY MURDER, cont'd.

1.  Limitation:  The killing must be done by the felon or a co-felon (this is the "agency" doctrine)

a.  Illustration of agency doctrine:  State v. Sophophone 

2.  Reminder:  In states that do not follow the agency doctrine, the underlying felony must constitute the proximate cause of the death

 

3.  "Innocent victim" rule holds that the felony-murder rule will not operate if the only victim is a co-felon (minority approach)

a.  This rule is separate from the "agency" doctrine

4.  Some jurisdictions claim to follow an "in furtherance of the felony" rule, but these cases are probably best interpreted as applying a "proximate cause" requirement or an "innocent victim" requirement

a.  Example:  Commonwealth v. Bolish (Musmanno, J.) (n. 4, p. 361) invokes the "innocent victim" rule

 

b.  Example:  United States v. Heinlein (p. 362) invokes a version of the "proximate cause" rule

 

c.  Example:  People v. Cavitt (p. 362) invokes a version of the "proximate cause" rule

5.  Alternative to felony murder rule:  Taylor v. Superior Court (California) (holding that initiation of gunplay displays extreme recklessness) (effectively bypassing agency limitation)