Washington v. Commonwealth

Defendant, James Edward Washington, was indicted by a grand jury of Powhatan County for the felonious killing of Raul M. Monte in violation of Code § 53-291 and subsection 53-291 (l). 1 After numer ous continuances on motions of the defendant and two mistrials, a change of venue was granted, also on defendant’s motion. Defendant was then tried in the Circuit Court of the City of Virginia Beach by a jury which found him guilty as charged in the indictment and fixed his punishment at death. Judgment was entered on the jury’s verdict on August 14, 1974, and defendant is here on a writ of error.

Th…