Commonwealth v. Cali
Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts
141 N.E. 510 (1923)
Relevant factsFree
Cali (defendant) was convicted of burning a building with intent to injure the insurer after a fire started at his mother's building; evidence showed he fled without calling for help or sounding any alarm, and the jury was instructed it could convict if Cali formed the intent to defraud the insurer only after the fire had accidentally started, so long as he then failed to extinguish it despite having the ability to do so.
IssueFree
Whether the intention to commit a crime can be formed after the required action has been taken.