Royal v. Commonwealth

Opinion

BAKER, J.

Cynthia Ann Royal (appellant) appeals from a judgment of the Circuit Court of the City of Newport News (trial court) which approved a jury verdict convicting her of first degree murder. She presents several issues on this appeal, the first of which is whether the trial court erred in excluding evidence which she asserts should have been admitted as a part of the res gestae.

On May 1, 1984, appellant was a guest in the apartment of Carol DeLoatch (Carol). Present at the time were Carol and her two children, Edward and Arnita; James Artis; Otto Drew (victim); and appellant’s…