Is there any evidence warranting a voluntary manslaughter instruction where the evidence shows that a defendant shot and killed a man he believed was his wife's paramour?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Montanez, B255385 (Cal. App. 2015):

In People v. Hudgins (1967) 252 Cal.App.2d 174, 181, for example, the court found no evidence warranting voluntary manslaughter instructions where the evidence showed the defendant broke into a house and shot the man he believed was his wife's paramour. "There was no evidence of a sudden quarrel, but only proof of a violent attack by an armed man upon one who was unarmed and who made a futile attempt to save his own life. There was no sudden heat of passion, but only evidence of a persistent, brooding jealousy which spurred appellant to a decision to arm himself and lie in wait for a victim. All the evidence indicated it was not a sudden, impetuous decision, acted upon without time and opportunity for reflection and the cooling off of suddenly aroused emotion. It was a decision reached after long deliberation and meditation, and careful preparation to carry into execution the threats appellant had repeatedly uttered. Upon

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these facts the killing was not manslaughter; it was, at the least, murder of the second degree."

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