Can a defendant be convicted of murder as a direct perpetrator or as an aider and abettor?
California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Richardson, G057817 (Cal. App. 2020):
A defendant may also be convicted of murder (or other crimes) as a direct perpetrator or as an aider and abettor. ( 31.) An aider and abettor can be held liable for crimes that were intentionally aided and abetted (target offenses); generally, an aider and abettor can also be held liable for any crimes that were unintentional but were reasonably foreseeable (nontarget offenses). (People v. Laster (1997) 52 Cal.App.4th 1450, 1462.)
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Liability for intentional, target offenses is known as "direct" aider and abettor liability; liability for unintentional, nontarget offenses is known as the ""'natural and probable consequences" doctrine.'" (People v. Montes (1999) 74 Cal.App.4th 1050, 1055.)
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