Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Criminal Law Blogs -> California Criminal Defense Blog

Criminal Law

: California Criminal Defense Blog

Brandon Hein - Life in Prison under California's Felony-Murder Rule

By Neil Shous, Esq.

Perhaps the most relatively recent controversial product of the often criticized California felony-murder rule is Brandon Hein. Brandon Hein, then 17, was sentenced to life in prison for his involvement in the 1995 stabbing of another teenager. The case received much publicity based on the application of the felony-murder rule. California?s felony-murder rule holds a defendant liable for murder if he or an accomplice kills another person during the commission of (1) specifically listed felonies, or (2) ?inherently dangerous? felonies. Hein?s case involved an alleged robbery, which is one of the specifically listed felonies that triggers this rule. Hein and the other teens charged in connection with the murder claimed that they went to a house to buy marijuana when a fist fight erupted...continue to full post

Full post as published by California Criminal Defense Blog on March 18, 2010 (boomark / email).