California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Beck, 256 Cal.Rptr.3d 1, 453 P.3d 1038, 8 Cal.5th 548 (Cal. 2019):
The error here in instructing on conspiracy to commit second degree murder was nonetheless harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Based on the remaining instructions, the prosecutors argument, and the jury verdicts, we conclude that the "jury necessarily found the defendants guilty of conspiracy to commit murder on a proper theory, i.e., based on express malice or intent to kill." ( People v. Swain (1996) 12 Cal.4th 593, 607, 49 Cal.Rptr.2d 390, 909 P.2d 994 ( Swain ).)
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