Durant v. Commonwealth

FITZPATRICK, Chief Judge.

Dwayne Mercellus Durant (appellant) was convicted in a jury trial of distribution of cocaine, in violation of Code § 18.2- 248. He contends the trial court (1) abused its discretion by-refusing his request to waive his presence at trial; (2) erred by allowing inadmissible hearsay during the testimony of Detective Hanula and (3) abused its discretion by excluding the testimony of his expert witness. For the following reasons, we affirm appellant’s conviction.

I. BACKGROUND

Under familiar principles of appellate review, we examine the evidence in the light most favorable…