Branch v. Commonwealth

Paul Preston Branch, III, was convicted of second degree murder, robbery, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and sentenced in accordance with the jury’s verdicts to confinement in the penitentiary for twenty years, five years, and one year, respectively. The principal question in this appeal is whether the evidence was sufficient to support the robbery conviction.

The offenses occurred on June 3, 1981, at Branch’s home in Norfolk. The victim, Jeffery Ryder, left Florida the previous day to drive to Virginia. Passengers in Ryder’s automobile were Dennis Kenney, Leif Dereng, and…