Does the Court's error in instructing the jury that a jury need not agree whether Defendant Committed a Premeditated Murder or Lying-in-wait Murder require reversal?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Russell, 117 Cal.Rptr.3d 615, 242 P.3d 68, 50 Cal.4th 1228 (Cal. 2010):

Defendant argues that the court's error in instructing the jury pursuant to CALJIC No. 2.03 requires reversal because it cannot be demonstrated that the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt pursuant to Chapman v. California, supra, 386 U.S. at page 24, 87 S.Ct. 824. In light of defendant's numerous taped confessions, we conclude that error, if any, in instructing the jury pursuant to CALJIC No. 2.03 was harmless.

5. Alleged Instructional Error That Jury Need Not Agree Whether Defendant Committed a Premeditated Murder or Lying-in-wait Murder

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