Felony murder doctrine applies when death occurs during or in immediate flight from the commission of what?

• A. During or in immediate flight from a statutorily specified felony by any participant
• B. Only when the defendant personally commits the killing
• C. Only in capital punishment cases
• D. When the death is due to natural causes

Answer: (A)

Felony murder liability kicks in when a death occurs during the commission of a statutorily listed felony or in immediate flight from its commission, and it can be charged to any participant in the underlying felony, not only the person who delivers the killing. The underlying felony must be one of the crimes named by statute for this doctrine to apply. So if a robbery or other enumerated felony is underway and someone dies during the act or while escaping, the death can support a murder charge for participants—even if they didn’t intend to kill. Natural causes or killings by someone not involved in the felony don’t qualify, and it isn’t limited to cases involving capital punishment.