Bennett v. Commonwealth

Ronald Bernard Bennett was convicted, in a jury trial, of the capital murder of Anne Keller Vaden during the commission of robbery while armed with a deadly weapon, Code § 18.2-31(d), of robbery, Code § 18.2-58, and of breaking and entering the victim’s dwelling place at night with the intent to commit larceny, Code § 18.2-91. He was sentenced to life in prison for the robbery and ten years in prison for the breaking and entering. Following a separate sentencing hearing, with regard to the capital murder conviction, the jury fixed his sentence at death based on the vileness of the crime. Code…