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Criminal Law Keyed to Johnson
People v. Patterson
Facts
On November 25, 1985, Mr. Patterson (Defendant) and two women ingested cocaine that Defendant had furnished to the group. One of the women, Jennie Licerio, died of acute cocaine intoxication. Defendant was charged with, among other things, felony murder. The prosecution argued that Defendant was guilty of felony murder because he committed an inherently dangerous felony by furnishing cocaine to Licerio. The trial court dismissed the murder charge, and the prosecution appealed. The court of appeals affirmed the dismissal. The prosecution petitioned the state supreme court for review.
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