Opinion ID: 2071409
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: First Degree Robbery Displaying Deadly Weapon

Text: A person is guilty of Robbery in the Second Degree when, in the course of committing theft, he or she threatens the immediate use of force against another to compel that person to surrender or deliver up the property. 11 Del.C. § 831(a)(2). To elevate that offense to the level of Robbery in the First Degree, the State must prove the elements of second degree robbery plus one additional element. 11 Del.C. § 832(a). A defendant can be convicted of first degree robbery if, in the course of committing the robbery, he or she displays what appears to be a deadly weapon. 11 Del.C. § 832(a)(2). Accordingly, the State, in seeking a first degree robbery conviction, was required to prove during its case-in-chief that Deshields display[ed] what appear[ed] to be a deadly weapon during the April 1995 incident. See 11 Del.C. § 832(a)(2). This Court has held that the terms displays and appears must be construed with a view toward the victim's perception. State v. Smallwood, Del.Supr., 346 A.2d 164, 166 (1975). Those terms obviously encompass the robber who actually physically displays a deadly weapon to the victim. Those terms also encompass the robber who intimidates by otherwise manifesting the presence of such a weapon even though it is not seen by the victim. State v. Smallwood, 346 A.2d at 167. Accord Harrigan v. State, Del.Supr., 447 A.2d 1191, 1193 (1982); DeShields v. State, Del.Supr., No. 415, 1987, Holland, J., 1988 WL 71442 (June 28, 1988) (ORDER). Moreover, the words displays and appears, as used in 11 Del.C. § 832, do not require that the assailant actually be armed. To establish those terms, the State is not required to prove that a deadly weapon was in fact used. The victim's subjective belief that the defendant possessed a deadly weapon is sufficient to support a conviction for Robbery in the First Degree. Williams v. State, Del.Supr., 494 A.2d 1237, 1242 n. 1 (1985). See Harrigan v. State, 447 A.2d at 1193. However, there must be more than the victim's fear of the existence of a deadly weapon. Johnson v. State, Del.Supr., No. 306, 1990, Walsh, J., 1991 WL 28889 (February 21, 1991) (ORDER). For example, the victim must see a bulge or suggestion that the defendant's clothing contained a weapon. Id. When the victim's subjective belief is accompanied by an objective physical manifestation that the robber appears to be displaying a deadly weapon, it is sufficient evidence to establish that necessary element of Robbery in the First Degree. Id.