Case BriefCrim law, homicide, felony murder ruleHughes, 2/21/15Identity of CasePeople v. James, 74 Cal. Rptr.2d 7 (1998). Page 398 of the casebookSummary of Facts/Procedural HistoryDefendant James was cooking meth in her trailer home when it exploded, killing two of her children. Convicted of first degree murder under the felony murder rule. Appeals, in Cal. Felony murder is limited to inherently dangerous felonies. Statement of the IssueIs manufacturing meth inherently dangerous so as to apply the felony murder rule? HoldingEven under the best conditions, cooking meth is inherently dangerous. ReasoningCalifornia looks at the crime and not the particular circumstances to determine whether a felony is inherently dangerous (because every time someone dies obviously it was dangerous, this is a more neutral way to look at it). Even following the best possible safety precautions, meth is liable to explode. In spite of their claim to be neutral, court examines at length the fact that defendant made meth in the worst, most dangerous way possible.
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