Clark v. State

Summary

The Supreme Court of Delaware affirmed Clark’s manslaughter and weapon convictions, holding that the trial court properly refused to give a missing-evidence instruction concerning fragments of a walking stick. The police had no duty to collect the sticks because the investigating officer had no reason at the time to believe they were exculpatory or evidentiary. The Court also noted that the officer was not negligent, substitute evidence was available, and ample eyewitness evidence supported the verdict.