Legal Opinion
Spencer v. Commonwealth
Supreme Court of Virginia
Decided September 22, 1989No. Record 881268; Record 881288PublishedCited by 105 opinions
1Opinion of the CourtJustice Stephenson
Timothy Wilson Spencer was indicted for the capital murder of Susan Tucker, i.e., the willful, deliberate, and premeditated murder during the commission of, or subsequent to, rape. Former Code § 18.2-31(e) (1987 Cum. Supp.). Spencer also was indicted for the rape of Tucker.
In a bifurcated trial conducted pursuant to Code §§ 19.2-264.3 and -264.4, a jury convicted Spencer of capital murder and fixed his punishment at death. The jury also convicted Spencer of rape and fixed his punishment at life imprisonment. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court imposed the sentences fixed by the…
2Cases cited39 opinions
- Witherspoon v. IllinoisSupreme Court of the United States · 1968
- Wainwright v. WittSupreme Court of the United States · 1985
- Frye v. United StatesCourt of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit · 1923
- Adams v. TexasSupreme Court of the United States · 1980
- Lockhart v. McCreeSupreme Court of the United States · 1986
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3Cited by105 opinions
- Kelly v. StateCourt of Criminal Appeals of Texas · 1992
- Spencer v. CommonwealthSupreme Court of Virginia · 1990
- State v. CauthronWashington Supreme Court · 1993
- Goins v. CommonwealthSupreme Court of Virginia · 1996
- State v. SchwartzSupreme Court of Minnesota · 1989
100 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.