Johnson v. Commonwealth

Ralph Randolph Johnson was found guilty by a jury of robbery committed August 4, 1975 and, by final order entered October 21, 1975, was sentenced to confinement in the penitentiary for five years. After the jury had been sworn, Johnson moved to exclude all witnesses. The trial court excluded all witnesses except the investigating officer. We granted Johnson a writ of error to consider the effect of an amendment to Code § 8-211.1 adopted by the'General Assembly effective June 1,1975. Acts 1975, c. 652.

Prior to amendment, the statute read in part:

“In the trial of every case, civil or criminal,…