Opinion ID: 1303713
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 15

Heading: Absence of Special Finding of Existence of Special Circumstance

Text: (17) Former sections 190.2 and 190.4, subdivision (a), required a special finding of the truth of each special circumstance charged. Defendant herein was charged with the sole special circumstance of felony murder based on rape or attempted rape. After being adequately instructed on the essential elements or prerequisites of a special circumstance finding, the jury adopted a special finding that the special circumstances, as charged in the information are true. Defendant now contends that this finding was insufficient in that it failed to include additional findings regarding each of the underlying elements (i.e., a premeditated murder, defendant's personal presence, and an intentional killing during rape or attempted rape). The statutory provisions at issue did not require any specific findings beyond the ultimate determination whether the special circumstances were true. ( People v. Davenport (1985) 41 Cal.3d 247, 273-275 [221 Cal. Rptr. 794, 710 P.2d 861].) Such a finding was made in the present case, and there is no indication in the record that the jurors failed to understand or apply the trial court's detailed and accurate instructions regarding the essential elements of the felony-murder special circumstance charged here.