Opinion ID: 1059011
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Depravity of Mind/Aggravated Battery

Text: In assignment of error 61, Winston argues that the trial court erred in providing sentencing verdict forms allowing a finding of `inhumane' [sic] action when the evidence for such a finding was lacking. Winston argues that the evidence was insufficient to support the giving of an instruction permitting the death penalty based upon depravity of mind or aggravated battery. The evidence in this case supports the trial court's instructions on vileness. As we stated in Goins, a finding of `vileness' must be based on conduct which is `outrageously or wantonly vile, horrible or inhuman in that it involved torture, depravity of mind or an aggravated battery to the victim.' 251 Va. at 468, 470 S.E.2d at 131 (quoting Code § 19.2-264.2). The evidence indicates that Winston committed aggravated battery on both Anthony and Rhonda Robinson within the meaning of Code § 19.2-264.2. We have defined aggravated battery in this context to mean a battery which, qualitatively and quantitatively, is more culpable than the minimum necessary to accomplish an act of murder. Smith v. Commonwealth, 219 Va. 455, 478, 248 S.E.2d 135, 149 (1978), cert. denied, 441 U.S. 967, 99 S.Ct. 2419, 60 L.Ed.2d 1074 (1979); see also Walker, 258 Va. at 71-72, 515 S.E.2d at 575 (1999) (finding that multiple gunshot wounds, any one of which could have been fatal, constitute an aggravated battery); Sheppard v. Commonwealth, 250 Va. 379, 392, 464 S.E.2d 131, 139 (1995), cert. denied, 517 U.S. 1110, 116 S.Ct. 1332, 134 L.Ed.2d 483 (1996) (finding an aggravated battery where there were multiple gunshot wounds and an appreciable lapse of time between the first and last shots, and when death does not result instantaneously from the first). The evidence was sufficient to prove that Winston shot Anthony Robinson at least seven times, and then went upstairs and shot Rhonda Robinson three times in an execution-style fashion in front of her two daughters.