Opinion ID: 1993014
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: May premeditation involve only a moment's reflection?

Text: The trial judge instructed the jury in effect that premeditation may involve only a moment's reflection, and that a deliberate act may be the conception and intention of a moment. This instruction is assigned as error on the theory that to speak of premeditation or deliberation as instantaneous and as taking no appreciable time is a contradiction in terms and is accordingly, against principle and reason. In Bantum v. State, supra, we specifically approved the instruction given, pointing out that it had long been the law of Delaware and was in accord with the weight of authority. Brown asks us to overrule the Bantum case, relying primarily upon Bullock v. United States, 74 App.D.C. 220, 122 F.2d 213, which we refused to follow in that case. Under the circumstances, we think the point is settled and we decline to reconsider and overrule the Bantum case.