California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Garcia, 188 Cal.Rptr.3d 253, 237 Cal.App.4th 666 (Cal. App. 2015):
Defendants further argue that, assuming they can be found guilty of first degree murder under the natural and probable consequences doctrine, even if lying in wait was not foreseeable, then the natural and probable consequences doctrine is unconstitutional. This argument presumes that the reasonable foreseeability of the lying in wait is an element of the offense for purposes of Apprendi v. New Jersey (2000) 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435. For the reasons already discussed, however, we disagree; the relevant element of the offense is that the perpetrator did, in fact, lie in wait, regardless of whether the lying in wait was reasonably foreseeable.
The above passage should not be considered legal advice. Reliable answers to complex legal questions require comprehensive research memos. To learn more visit www.alexi.com.