Opinion ID: 1199801
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Sufficiency of the Evidence for the Felony-murder-rape Special-circumstance Finding

Text: Defendant contends that the evidence is insufficient to support the felony-murder-rape special-circumstance finding. (24) `In reviewing the sufficiency of evidence for a special circumstance'  as for a conviction  `the question we ask is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the People, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the allegation beyond a reasonable doubt.' ( People v. Rowland, supra, 4 Cal.4th at p. 271, quoting People v. Mickey, supra, 54 Cal.3d at p. 678, italics in original.) [18] Defendant's claim of insufficiency goes to the underlying felony of rape itself, independent felonious purpose, and intent to kill. In view of the evidence, which is described above (see pt. I.A., ante ) and need not be rehearsed here, a rational trier of fact could certainly have found the felony-murder-rape special-circumstance allegation to be true beyond a reasonable doubt. That is to say, such a trier of fact could surely have determined to that degree of certainty that defendant murdered Hildreth while he was engaged in raping her or at least in fleeing the crime scene immediately thereafter. Defendant's complaint about the asserted lack of evidence of the underlying felony of rape fails. Its substance has already been assessed and found wanting. (See pt. II.I., ante. ) Defendant's complaint about the asserted lack of evidence of independent felonious purpose also fails. A rational trier of fact could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that he committed the act resulting in death in order to commit rape. (25) Finally, defendant's complaint about the asserted lack of evidence of intent to kill fails as well. A rational trier of fact could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that he sought to eliminate Hildreth as a witness to his crimes, a witness who could have identified him positively. Without question, such a trier of fact could have declined to accept as accidental the act of fatally stabbing Hildreth or the act of pressing down her cheek with the sole of a shoe as she lay dying. Defendant asserts that an intent to kill formed after termination of any actual or attempted rape, and unrelated to those offenses, would not support a felony-murder ... special circumstance. Contrary to what appears to be his assumption, the felony-murder special circumstance does not require a strict causal or temporal relationship between the felony and the murder. In any event, the relationship that a rational trier of fact could have discerned from the evidence is enough. [19]