Tag Archives: Merger


Merger Doctrine Not Applicable to First Degree Felony Murder
September 12th, 2022

In People v. Ireland (1969) 70 Cal.2d 522 the CSC held that “the crime of assault with a deadly weapon cannot be used as the sole predicate crime for a second degree felony-murder conviction because, when a firearm is used in a killing, such an assault is “an integral part of the homicide.” In People […]


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Chun Error: 9th Circuit overturns CSC Finding of harmless error
August 15th, 2016

Chun was convicted of second-degree felony murder based on shooting at an occupied motor vehicle either directly or as an aider and abetter. He appealed, arguing that felony murder was inapplicable under the merger doctrine. He also contended that improperly giving the jury the felony murder instruction allowed the jury to convict him of second-degree […]


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Grossly Negligent Shooting Of Firearm: Defense Theory Of Belief That Gun Was Unloaded
March 30th, 2014

    If the defendant actually believed that the firearm he or she discharged was unloaded, the defendant has not violated this statute. (People v. Robertson (2004) 34 Cal. 4th 156.) However, Robertson was overruled in People v. Chun (2009) 45 Cal. 4th 1172, as follows:   To avoid the anomaly of putting a person […]


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