AC44561 - State v. Armstrong (“Attempt to commit robbery in the first degree; firearm possession; “The
defendant claims that (1) the court violated his right to self-representation,
(2) the court committed instructional error with respect to the essential
elements of attempted robbery, (3) the court improperly enhanced his sentence
pursuant to § 53a-40 (g), and (4) the state failed to prove beyond a reasonable
doubt that he was guilty of attempted robbery. We agree with the defendant that
the state did not satisfy its burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that
he took a substantial step in the commission of the offense because the
evidence did not support a finding that he displayed or threatened the use of
what he represented by his words or conduct to be a firearm. Accordingly, we
reverse the judgment of conviction and remand the case to the trial court with
direction to render a judgment of acquittal.”)