What does the felony-murder rule stipulate regarding deaths occurring during the commission of a felony?

The felony-murder rule stipulates that all individuals involved in the commission of a felony can be charged with murder if a death occurs during that felony, even if they did not directly cause the death or intend to kill. This rule is based on the principle that those who participate in a dangerous crime should be held accountable for any foreseeable outcomes of that criminal conduct, including death.

For example, if a group of individuals commits a robbery and one of them unintentionally kills someone during the process, all participants in the robbery can be charged with murder under the felony-murder rule. This reflects the understanding that engaging in a felony inherently carries significant risks and consequences, and thus all parties involved are responsible for the actions that ensue from that joint enterprise.

This principle addresses the collective liability of all participants in the felony, regardless of their individual roles or intentions with respect to the murder, establishing a broader standard of accountability in the context of serious crimes.