Tice v. State

MOORE, Justice.

Elmer E. Tice appeals his convictions in the Superior Court of assault, reckless endangering, possession of a deadly weapon, and certain motor vehicle charges related to his arrest. We address an issue of first impression: May a defendant, charged with assault, introduce character evidence of the victim’s prior bad acts as an essential element of a self-defense claim? We conclude that the character of the victim is not an essential element of a self-defense claim. The evidence is admissible, however, under D.R.E. 404(b), 1 subject to the standards of Getz v. State, Del.Supr.,…