Delaware Trial Handbook § 9:5. BURDEN OF PROOF IN CRIMINAL CASES

In criminal cases, the burden is on the government to prove every element of the charged offense.48 Such proof must be beyond a reasonable doubt.49 The phrase “beyond a reasonable doubt” does not mean that guilt must be established to an absolute certainty. Nor does it mean a mere imagined, vague, speculative or possible doubt. Rather, it means a substantial doubt such as intelligent, reasonable and impartial people may honestly entertain after a careful and conscientious consideration of the evidence in the case.50

Defendants in criminal cases have the burden of establishing any affirmative defense,51  such as entrapment,52 mental illness or incapacity,53 or duress.54 Such affirmative defenses, however, need only be proved by a preponderance of  the evidence.55 “Preponderance of the evidence,” for the purposes of criminal law, is defined by statute as “evidence [that] makes it more likely than not that each element of the affirmative defense existed at the required time.”56

48. 11 Del. C. § 301(a); Walls v. State, 560 A.2d 1038, 1046 (Del. 1989), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 967 (1989); Leasure v. State, 385 A.2d 730, 732 (Del. 1978); Quillen v. State, 110 A.2d 445, 449 (Del. 1955), reh’g denied, 112 A.2d 848 (Del. 1955); State v. Matushefske, 215 A.2d 443, 449 (Del. Super. 1965).

49. 11 Del. C. § 301(b); Walls v. State, 560 A.2d 1038, 1040 (Del. 1989), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 967 (1989); Wyant v. State, 519 A.2d 649, 652 (Del. 1986); Leasure v. State, 385 A.2d 730, 732 (Del. 1978).

50. Mills v. State, 732 A.2d 845, 851 (Del. 1999); Wintjen v. State, 398 A.2d 780, 781 n.2 (Del. 1979); Lane v. State, 222 A.2d 263, 267 (Del, 1966).

51. 11 Del. C. § 304(a); Bryson v. State, 840 A.2d 631, 634-36 (Del. 2003); State v. Baker, 720 A.2d 1139, 1150 (Del. 1998); State v. Stockley, 82 A. 1078, 1080 (Del. Gen. Sess. 1911); State v. Lee, 74 A. 4, 6 (Del. Gen. Sess. 1909).

52. 11 Del. C. §§ 304(a), 432(a); Atkins v. State, 523 A.2d 539, 546 (Del. 1987); Brown v. State, 310 A.2d 870, 871 (Del. 1973); Crosby v. State, 295 A.2d 708, 711 (Del. 1972).

53. 11 Del. C. §§ 304(a), 401(a); Sanders v. State, 585 A.2d 117, 131 (Del. 1990); Crawford v. State, 94 A.2d 603, 607, (Del. 1953); State v. Muirine, 183 A.2d 831, 832 (Del. Super. 1962); State v. DiGuglielmo, 55 A. 350, 351 (Del. Gen. Sess. 1903); State v. Kavanaugh, 53 A. 335, 336 (Del. Gen. Seas. 1902); State v. Cole, 45 A. 391, 394 (Del. O. & T. 1899).

54. 11 Del. C. §§ 304(a), 431(a).

55. 11 Del. C. § 304(a); Foraker v. State, 394 A.2d 208, 214 (Del. 1978); State v. Cabrera, 891 A.2d 1066, 1072 (Del. Super. 2005).

56. 11 Del. C. § 304(c).

© 2010  David L. Finger