Ramdass v. Commonwealth

Bobby Lee Ramdass pleaded guilty to the robbery of Mohammad Z. Kayani immediately preceding his trial for the capital murder of Kayani. The capital murder charge was predicated on Ramdass’s alleged murder of Kayani in the commission of robbery while armed with a deadly weapon, Code § 18.2-31(4), and the use of a firearm in the commission of Kayani’s murder, Code § 18.2-53.1. The trial court deferred action on Ramdass’s guilty plea.

In a bifurcated jury trial conducted under the provisions of Code §§ 19.2-264.3 and -264.4, Ramdass was convicted of Kayani’s capital murder. In the second phase of…