The Future of the Felony Murder Rule in Florida: Calls for Reform
Written by R. A. Stewart The Felony rule is applicable to any crime when someone dies as a result of a separate crime. For example, a group of people may rob someone but if the victim dies as a result of the robbery then all participants in the robbery are equally guilty of the victims death. This legal doctrine operates under the assumption that those engaged in serious criminal activity should bear responsibility for the foreseeable consequences of their actions, including the unintended deaths that may arise from their criminal endeavours. This has resulted in people being sentenced to life without parole for a murder which they did not commit. The prosecution must demonstrate that the death was a foreseeable consequence of the felony. This does not mean the felon must have intended the death, but rather that it was a reasonable outcome of engaging in the criminal act. Consider a scenario where two individuals rob a convenience store. During the robbery, a store employee ...