State v. Hoang

Thai Do Hoang (defendant) was hired to burn down a building for $1,000 and recruited three assistants; two of them, Dung and Thuong, entered the building with gasoline Hoang passed through a window, while Hoang himself stayed outside. After seeing flames and hearing sirens, Hoang fled, and Dung and Thuong were later found dead — one badly burned, the other from smoke inhalation. Hoang confessed to his role, and the trial judge dismissed the felony-murder counts against him; the state appealed.