Washington v. Commonwealth

JAMES W. BENTON, JR., Judge.

A jury convicted Phillip Morris Washington upon an indictment charging that he committed a malicious wounding “after having been twice convicted of a violent felony,” in violation of Code § 18.2-51 and § 19.2-297.1, and that he committed a wounding during the commission of a felony in violation of Code § 18.2-53. On appeal, Washington contends that the trial judge erred in permitting the prosecutor to prove two prior robbery convictions during the guilt phase of the bifurcated trial. We hold that the felony convictions, which must be proved to invoke Code §…