Opinion ID: 1338679
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 15

Heading: Vileness

Text: As noted previously, the jury based its sentence of death upon the aggravating factor of vileness, viz., Thomas's conduct in committing the offense was outrageously or wantonly vile, horrible or inhuman in that it involved torture, depravity of mind or an aggravated battery to the victim. Code § 19.2-264.2. Thomas argues that the evidence was insufficient to establish vileness. We disagree. We think the evidence clearly shows that Mrs. Wiseman's murder involved both aggravated battery and depravity of mind. We have defined the term aggravated battery 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). While a single gunshot wound, causing instantaneous death, does not constitute an aggravated battery, Peterson v. Commonwealth, 225 Va. 289, 296, 302 S.E.2d 520, 525, cert. denied, 464 U.S. 865, 104 S.Ct. 202, 78 L.Ed.2d 176 (1983), multiple gunshot wounds may constitute an `aggravated battery'... where there is an appreciable lapse of time between the first shot and the last, and where death does not result instantaneously from the first. Barnes v. Commonwealth, 234 Va. 130, 139-40, 360 S.E.2d 196, 203 (1987), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 1036, 108 S.Ct. 763, 98 L.Ed.2d 779 (1988). Although Thomas stated in his confession that he shot at the Wisemans from the doorway of their bedroom and couldn't see them, medical evidence shows that both victims were shot in the face from close range and that both shots would have been fatal. Mrs. Wiseman, however, was able to get out of her bed and walk to Jessica's bedroom, where she was again struck in the face by a blast from Thomas's shotgun, this one killing her instantaneously. Hence, it is clear beyond any doubt that there was an appreciable lapse of time between the first shot [that struck Mrs. Wiseman] and the last [and that death did] not result instantaneously from the first. Id. It is just as clear that the battery to Mrs. Wiseman was more culpable than the minimum necessary to accomplish [her murder], Smith, 219 Va. at 478, 248 S.E.2d at 149, and, therefore, that the battery was aggravated. We have defined depravity of mind as a degree of moral turpitude and physical debasement surpassing that inherent in the definition of ordinary legal malice and premeditation. [10] Id. Only a person of depraved mind could plan and commit the execution-style killings this record reveals yet show no remorse or regret for his actions.