Court Opinion

ID: 9620385
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 05:41:46.459421+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:04:49.996082
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE STEPHENSON, with whom JUSTICE WHITING and JUSTICE HASSELL join,
dissenting.
Unquestionably, evidence that Edmondson gave a false name was admissible as a circumstance which the jury may take into consideration along with other facts and circumstances tending to establish guilt or innocence. I think, however, that the trial court erred in granting the instruction emphasizing this particular evidence.
We repeatedly have held that it is reversible error for a trial court to single out for emphasis a part of the evidence that tends to establish a particular fact. See, e.g., Medina v. Hegerberg, 245 Va. 210, 212, 427 S.E.2d 343, 345 (1993); Nelms v. Nelms, 236 Va. 281, 286, 374 S.E.2d 4, 7 (1988); LeVasseur v. Commonwealth, 225 Va. 564, 595, 304 S.E.2d 644, 661 (1983); Snyder v. Commonwealth, 220 Va. 792, 797, 263 S.E.2d 55, 58 (1980); Woods v. Commonwealth, 171 Va. 543, 547-48, 199 S.E. 465, 467 (1938). This sound rule is consistent with another well-established rule in Virginia that trial judges are not permitted to comment on the evidence in the presence of a jury.
*392The majority, however, states that “ [instructions allowing the jury to consider flight as an action tending to show guilt are not considered to be improper comments on the evidence and are given routinely by the courts of this Commonwealth with approval of this Court.” In support of its position, the majority cites Boykins v. Commonwealth, 210 Va. 309, 313-14, 170 S.E.2d 771, 774 (1969), and Carson v. Commonwealth, 188 Va. 398, 408, 49 S.E.2d 704, 708 (1948). I do not read those cases so broadly.
In Boykins, the defendant did not challenge the giving of an instruction dealing with flight, but merely contended that the granted instruction was erroneous because it did not contain the words, “if proven.” 210 Va. at 313-14, 170 S.E.2d at 774. We held, in Boykins, that failure to include the words, “if proven,” in the instruction was not reversible error. Id. at 314, 170 S.E.2d at 774.
In Carson, we did say that “[t]he jury may be told that such flight is an element, a circumstance which they may take into consideration along with other facts and circumstances tending to establish guilt or innocence.” 188 Va. at 408, 49 S.E.2d at 708. Although this statement seems to support the majority’s view, I submit that a close reading of Carson shows that this statement is dicta.
If, however, we have somehow approved an exception to the general rule with respect to the giving of an instruction regarding the flight of an accused, I am unwilling to join the majority in creating an additional exception with respect to the giving of a false name. Accordingly, I respectfully dissent.