Opinion ID: 1310716
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Motion to Dismiss Capital Murder Indictment on Constitutional Grounds.

Text: Stamper's challenge to the constitutionality of the Virginia capital murder statute on the grounds that the death penalty under the statute constitutes cruel and unusual punishment and denies him due process and equal protection is supported only by arguments that have been considered and rejected by us in Waye v. Commonwealth, 219 Va. ___, 251 S.E.2d 202, cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 99 S.Ct. 2850, 61 L.Ed.2d 292 (1979), and Smith v. Commonwealth, 219 Va. 455, 248 S.E.2d 135 (1978), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 99 S.Ct. 2419, 60 L.Ed.2d 1074 (1979). We reaffirm our views expressed in those cases.