Opinion ID: 1311026
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: claims previously decided

Text: Breard presents a number of claims without offering sufficient reasons to warrant deviation from our previously expressed views. Therefore, we will adhere to our prior holdings and reject these claims. Breard's claims and our prior holdings are set forth below.
The trial court erred in refusing to grant a pretrial evidentiary hearing on the constitutionality of death by electrocution. This claim was rejected in Ramdass v. Commonwealth, 246 Va. 413, 419, 437 S.E.2d 566, 569 (1993).
The trial court erred in denying Breard's motion to prohibit the imposition of the death penalty for the following reasons:
Virginia's death penalty statutes are unconstitutional because they do not require the jury to find beyond a reasonable doubt that aggravating factors outweigh mitigating factors. Answered in Mickens v. Commonwealth, 247 Va. 395, 403, 442 S.E.2d 678, 684 (1994). Furthermore, the court failed to properly instruct the jury about how it should consider mitigating evidence. Answered by Satcher v. Commonwealth, 244 Va. 220, 228, 421 S.E.2d 821, 826 (1992), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 113 S.Ct. 1319, 122 L.Ed.2d 705 (1993).
Virginia's vileness and future dangerousness aggravating factors are unconstitutionally vague and inherently unreliable. Answered in Mickens, 247 Va. at 403, 442 S.E.2d at 684.
The future dangerousness aggravating factor is unconstitutionally applied because the jury is permitted to consider evidence of unadjudicated acts of misconduct without an instruction that such acts must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Answered by Satcher, 244 Va. at 228, 421 S.E.2d at 826; Stockton v. Commonwealth, 241 Va. 192, 210, 402 S.E.2d 196, 206, cert. denied, 502 U.S. ___, 112 S.Ct. 280, 116 L.Ed.2d 231 (1991).
The death penalty is arbitrarily and discriminatorily imposed, is repugnant to society's evolving standards of decency, and is excessive. Answered by Satcher, 244 Va. at 228, 421 S.E.2d at 826. The death penalty constitutes cruel and unusual punishment per se. Answered by Spencer v. Commonwealth, 238 Va. 275, 280-81, 384 S.E.2d 775, 777-78 (1989), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 1036, 110 S.Ct. 759, 107 L.Ed.2d 775 (1990).
The trial court erred in denying Breard additional preemptory challenges. Answered by Beavers v. Commonwealth, 245 Va. 268, 273, 427 S.E.2d 411, 416, cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 114 S.Ct. 171, 126 L.Ed.2d 130 (1993).
The trial court erred in denying individual and sequestered voir dire. Answered by Stewart v. Commonwealth, 245 Va. 222, 229, 427 S.E.2d 394, 399, cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 114 S.Ct. 143, 126 L.Ed.2d 105 (1993).
A defendant who is sentenced to death in Virginia is denied a meaningful appellate review. Answered by Satcher, 244 Va. at 228, 421 S.E.2d at 826.
Code § 19.2-264.5 is unconstitutional because it allows the trial court to consider hearsay information contained in a presentence report. Answered by O'Dell v. Commonwealth, 234 Va. 672, 701-02, 364 S.E.2d 491, 507-08 cert. denied, 488 U.S. 871, 109 S.Ct. 186, 102 L.Ed.2d 154 (1988).
The trial court erred in denying Breard's motion for a bill of particulars. Answered by Ramdass, 246 Va. at 419, 437 S.E.2d at 570; Satcher, 244 Va. at 231, 421 S.E.2d at 828; Strickler v. Commonwealth, 241 Va. 482, 490, 404 S.E.2d 227, 233, cert. denied, 502 U.S. ___, 112 S.Ct. 386, 116 L.Ed.2d 337 (1991). These cases hold that a bill of particulars is not required if the indictment gives an accused notice of the nature and character of the offense charged. In the present case, the indictment gave Breard such notice.