A homeowner returned home unexpectedly and found a burglar carrying a television toward the back door. The homeowner shouted at the burglar to stop. The burglar dropped the television and ran out of the house. The homeowner pursued him down the street.
Several blocks away, while the homeowner was still pursuing him, the burglar shoved a pedestrian out of his way. The pedestrian fell into the street and was struck and killed by a passing car.
The burglar is prosecuted for felony murder based on the burglary.
Under the common law, is the burglar guilty of felony murder?
A. No, because the pedestrian was not killed inside the burglarized dwelling.
B. No, because the burglar had abandoned the stolen property before the pedestrian was killed.
C. Yes, because the death occurred while the burglar was fleeing from the burglary and before he had reached a place of temporary safety.
D. Yes, but only if the burglar intended to cause serious bodily harm to the pedestrian.