Benson v. Delaware

Following a six-day trial, a jury convicted Sirron Benson of Murder First Degree and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony in connection with the 2011 shooting death of Braheem Curtis. Benson was sentenced to a term of life imprisonment as to Murder First Degree and twenty years at Level V to be served consecutively as to Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony. On appeal, Benson argued: (1) it was plain error for the trial judge not to issue a curative instruction sua sponte when the prosecutor, in his rebuttal summation, stated that Benson’s intent to cause death could be inferred from the weapon used to perpetrate the crime; and (2) the trial judge committed reversible error by failing to give a cautionary instruction relating to the testimony of an informant witness who was receiving a benefit from the State in exchange for his testimony. Finding no merit to either of Benson’s arguments, the Supreme Court affirmed. View "Benson v. Delaware" on Justia Law