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Delaware · Through 2026-08-10 (85 Del. Laws, c. 421, 424) · Newer source version available

11 Del. C. § 469: Justification — Person unlawfully in dwelling.

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Where this section sits in the code
  1. Title 11. Crimes and Criminal Procedure
  2. Delaware Criminal Code
  3. CHAPTER 4. Defenses to Criminal Liability

In the prosecution of an occupant of a dwelling charged with killing or injuring an intruder who was unlawfully in said dwelling, it shall be a defense that the occupant was in the occupant’s own dwelling at the time of the offense, and:

(1) The encounter between the occupant and intruder was sudden and unexpected, compelling the occupant to act instantly; or

(2) The occupant reasonably believed that the intruder would inflict personal injury upon the occupant or others in the dwelling; or

(3) The occupant demanded that the intruder disarm or surrender, and the intruder refused to do so.

Collected 2026-09-05T23:02:13Z. Source file · JSON

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