{"data":{"id":"us-de/11-del.-c.-469","jurisdiction":"us-de","citation":"11 Del. C. § 469","heading":"Justification — Person unlawfully in dwelling.","body":"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:\n(1) The encounter between the occupant and intruder was sudden and unexpected, compelling the occupant to act instantly; or\n(2) The occupant reasonably believed that the intruder would inflict personal injury upon the occupant or others in the dwelling; or\n(3) The occupant demanded that the intruder disarm or surrender, and the intruder refused to do so.","path":["Title 11. Crimes and Criminal Procedure","Delaware Criminal Code","CHAPTER 4. Defenses to Criminal Liability"],"source_url":"https://delcode.delaware.gov/title11/c004/index.html#469","current_through":"2026-08-10 (85 Del. Laws, c. 421, 424)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T23:02:13Z","sha256":"094c704aaaf1197ee214f150ec69b318aa1c42efe219c064b59cfe3b443b7205","source_id":"us-de","stale":true,"prev":"us-de/11-del.-c.-468","next":"us-de/11-del.-c.-470"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}