Wise v. Commonwealth

In a consolidated trial, a jury convicted Joe Louis Wise of capital murder in the commission of armed robbery, armed robbery, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and grand larceny. The trial court confirmed the four verdicts and imposed penitentiary sentences of life for robbery, two years for the use of a firearm, and 20 years for grand larceny. In a separate proceeding, see Code §§ 19.2-264.3 and -264.4, the jury fixed the penalty for the capital conviction at death, and the court entered final judgment imposing the sentence. We have certified Wise’s appeals in the non-capital…