Supreme Court of Virginia
Cordell Lionel Carter v. Commonwealth of Virginia
June 22, 2017293 Va. 537
Summary
The Supreme Court of Virginia affirmed Carter's convictions for first‑degree murder and use of a firearm, holding that the trial court's evidentiary exclusions were not abusive, any error was harmless, and Carter waived his objections to the verdict and closing argument.
Holding
- Whether the trial court erred in excluding the victim's alleged threat testimony as relevant to self‑defense. The error was harmless and did not require reversal of the conviction.
- Whether the trial court erred in excluding the victim's prior acts of violence as character evidence. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in excluding the older violent acts.
- Whether the trial court erred in refusing to set aside the verdict based on Showalter's false testimony. The issue was waived because Carter failed to timely object or move for a mistrial.
- Whether the trial court erred in allowing the Commonwealth's emotional closing argument without a timely objection. The objection was waived; no reversible error.
Docket Record 160993
Cited by
- Derrick Dominique Robinson v. Commonwealth of Virginia
- Wilkins v. Clarke
- Christine McKinney v. Fairfax County Department of Family Services
- Montrio Santos Neville v. Commonwealth of Virginia
- Montrio Santos Neville v. Commonwealth of Virginia
- Latoya Denise Jefferson v. Commonwealth of Virginia
- Anita Shana-Nicole Simms v. Alexandria Department of Community and Human Services
- Michael Civis v. Fauquier County Department of Social Services