Ward v. Commonwealth

SENIOR JUSTICE STEPHENSON

delivered the opinion of the Court.

The two issues presented in this appeal are: (1) whether the trial court erred in allowing an expert to testify that a rape victim suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, and (2) whether the evidence is sufficient to prove that the accused committed rape and sexual battery.

I

In a bench trial in the Circuit Court of Henrico County, Adrian Darryl Ward was convicted of rape and sexual battery. He was sentenced to 40 years’ imprisonment with 25 years suspended for the rape and to a suspended 12-month sentence for the sexual battery.…