Law v. Commonwealth

HUMPHREYS, Judge.

John Maurcelle Law appeals his conviction, after a bench trial, for bribery of a witness in violation of Code § 18.2-441.1. Law contends his conduct did not establish a violation of the statute. For the following reasons, we reverse the judgment of the trial court.

I. BACKGROUND

On July 5, 2001, Celestine Riddick and her daughter, Nakia Sykes, attended a preliminary hearing at the Chesapeake Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, for a sexual assault case in which Sykes, was the victim. Riddick and Sykes waited in the lobby, outside the courtroom, prior to the hearing.…