To Be Liable for Murder 1st Under the Felony Murder Rule, the Perpetrator Must “Actually Cause” the Death of Another During the Course of the Predicate Crime

By: Ray Hill, Professor Emeritus, Santa Rosa Junior College

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CASE ALERT:

To Be Liable for Murder 1st Under the Felony Murder Rule, the Perpetrator Must “Actually Cause” the Death of Another During the Course of the Predicate Crime – 190.2 / 198 P.C. (California v. Vang, 3DCA #C090365, 8/5/22).

This recent case illustrates Hill’s Rule #2 – “The Law is Not Always Logical”. “It Just Is!”.

Defendant was charged with numerous felony crimes against a former girlfriend and his wife. He and his wife got into an argument over alleged infidelity. She drove away in her vehicle. The defendant followed and eventually blocked her path with his vehicle and forced her into his truck. In a desperate act to escape during further transit, the victim began to open the passenger door. Defendant told officers ....