People v. Cox

Opinion

BAXTER, J.

We granted review in this case to determine whether conviction of involuntary manslaughter based on “an unlawful act, not amounting to felony” (Pen. Code, § 192, subd. (b)), 1 i.e., a killing resulting from the commission of a misdemeanor offense committed with general criminal intent, requires a further showing that the predicate misdemeanor was dangerous under the circumstances of its commission. The Court of Appeal below read our recent decision in People v. Wells (1996) 12 Cal.4th 979 [50 Cal.Rptr.2d 699, 911 P.2d 1374] (Wells) as impliedly holding that in cases not…