Opinion ID: 1998644
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Manlove's First Trial Conspiracy Acquittal

Text: At Manlove's first trial in May 2005, the jury was instructed on Count 2 of the indictment alleging Conspiracy in the Second Degree, as follows: Count 2 of the indictment charges the defendant, Bruce G. Manlove, Senior, with conspiracy in the second degree in violation of Title 11 Delaware Code, Section 512. Delaware law defines the offense of conspiracy in the second degree in pertinent part as follows: A person is guilty of conspiracy in the second degree when, intending to promote the commission of a felony, the person: One, agrees with another person or persons that they or one or more of them will engage in conduct constituting the felony. Two, and the person commits an overt act in pursuance of the conspiracy. In order to find the defendant guilty of conspiracy in the second degree, you must find that all of the following elements have been established beyond a reasonable doubt: One, the defendant intended, that is, it was his conscious object or purpose to promote the commission of the felony of robbery. Two, the defendant agreed with another person, in this case an unidentified person, to engage in conduct which constitutes a felony; and Three, the defendant committed an overt act in pursuance of the conspiracy. An overt act is any act in pursuance of or in the furtherance of the accomplishment of the purpose of the conspiracy. If, after considering all of the evidence, you find that the State has established beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant acted in such a manner as to satisfy all of the elements which I have just stated, at or about the date and place stated in the indictment, you should find the defendant guilty of conspiracy in the second degree. If you do not so find, or if you have a reasonable doubt as to any element of this offense, you must find the defendant not guilty of conspiracy in the second degree. At Manlove's first trial, the jury found him not guilty of Conspiracy in the Second Degree, but was unable to reach a verdict on the two remaining charges of Robbery in the First Degree and Assault in the Third Degree. A mistrial was declared on the Robbery and Assault allegations. As a result of the jury's not-guilty verdict on the charge of Conspiracy in the Second Degree, the only remaining charges at Manlove's retrial in July 2005 were Robbery in the First Degree and Assault in the Third Degree.