We affirm, without discussion, Latimer’s conviction for robbery with a deadly weapon. However, double jeopardy principles preclude Latimer’s conviction for simple assault arising from the same criminal transaction. Robbery involves the “taking of money or other property ... from the person or custody of another ... when in the course of the taking there is the use of force, violence,
assault
or putting in fear.” § 812.13, Fla. Stat. (2009) (emphasis added). The verdict form gave no indication as to whether the jury determined that the taking in this case constituted robbery because of the accompanying assault on the victim, or based upon some separate use of force or violence. Because “[w]e must read the verdict in a manner which would give the benefit of the doubt to” the defendant,
State v. Reardon,
AFFIRMED in part; REVERSED in part; and REMANDED.
