Word v. State

VEASEY, Chief Justice.

In this appeal, we review the scope of the statutory element of first degree rob bery that requires a finding that the defendant “displays what appears to be a deadly weapon.” 1 We clarify and reaffirm that to support a conviction for first degree robbery, the victim not only must have the subjective belief that the defendant possesses a deadly weapon but also this belief must be “accompanied by an objective physical manifestation that the robber appears to be displaying a deadly weapon.” 2

Although the victim in this case believed the defendant possessed a deadly weapon,…