Matthews v. State

Summary

The Supreme Court of Delaware affirmed the denial of Matthews's request for a separate jury to hear the firearm-possession charge after bifurcation. The court held that requesting a lesser-included-offense instruction on reckless endangering did not require Matthews to concede firearm possession, particularly because he maintained a mistaken-identity defense in both trials. The court also concluded that separate juries were unnecessary and inefficient because the charges arose from the same conduct and involved the same evidence and witnesses.