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19 Virginia opinions name it 2 courts 1989–2026 12 in the last five years
The cases below were cited by Virginia courts in a sentence that names this issue. Sides come from how each citing opinion treated the case (Syfertize flag on that citation), so a case can appear on both: that is where the law is contested. A red or yellow chip is the case's own overall treatment.
| Case | Followed | Cited |
|---|---|---|
Epperly v. Commonwealthgreen2 sentences2008A combination of circumstantial factors may be sufficient.’” Pender v. Angelone, Director, Virginia Dept. of Corrections, 257 Va. 501, 508 , 514 S.E.2d 756, 759 (1999) (quoting Rhodes v. Commonwealth, 238 Va. 480, 486 , 384 S.E.2d 95, 98 (1989) (citing Epperly, 224 Va. at 232 , 294 S.E.2d at 892-93 )); see Edmonds v. Commonwealth, 229 Va. 303, 308 , 329 S.E.2d 807, 811 (1985) (“[A]bsent eyewitness testimony or a voluntary confession, that question [of whether a killing was premeditated] necessarily turns upon the import of circumstantial evidence.” (citing Epperly, 224 Va. at 232 , 294 S.E.2d 2008A combination of circumstantial factors may be sufficient.’” Pender v. Angelone, Director, Virginia Dept. of Corrections, 257 Va. 501, 508 , 514 S.E.2d 756, 759 (1999) (quoting Rhodes v. Commonwealth, 238 Va. 480, 486 , 384 S.E.2d 95, 98 (1989) (citing Epperly, 224 Va. at 232 , 294 S.E.2d at 892-93 )); see Edmonds v. Commonwealth, 229 Va. 303, 308 , 329 S.E.2d 807, 811 (1985) (“[A]bsent eyewitness testimony or a voluntary confession, that question [of whether a killing was premeditated] necessarily turns upon the import of circumstantial evidence.” (citing Epperly, 224 Va. at 232 , 294 S.E.2d | 6 | 6 |
Rhodes v. Commonwealthgreen2 sentences2026“A combination of circumstantial factors may be sufficient.” Id. 2026A combination of circumstantial factors may be sufficient.” Rhodes v. Commonwealth, 238 Va. 480, 486 (1989). | 4 | 17 |
Aldridge v. Commonwealthgreen2 sentences2024“Because ‘premeditation and formation of an intent to kill seldom can be proved by direct evidence, a combination of circumstantial factors may be sufficient.’” Id. (alterations omitted) (quoting Aldridge v. Commonwealth, 44 Va. App. 618, 655 (2004)). 2024“Because ‘premeditation and formation of an intent to kill seldom can be proved by direct evidence, a combination of circumstantial factors may be sufficient.’” Id. (alterations omitted) (quoting Aldridge v. Commonwealth, 44 Va. App. 618, 655 (2004)). | 4 | 4 |
Remington v. Commonwealthgreen2 sentences2024The defendant’s intention to kill “need not exist for any specified length of time prior to the actual killing.” Kirby v. Commonwealth, 50 Va. App. 691, 700 (2007) (quoting - 12 - Remington v. Commonwealth, 262 Va. 333, 352 (2001)). 2024The intention to kill “need not exist for any specified length of time prior to the actual killing.” Kirby v. Commonwealth, 50 Va. App. 691, 700 (2007) (quoting Remington v. Commonwealth, 262 Va. 333, 352 (2001)). | 3 | 3 |
Kirby v. Commonwealthgreen2 sentences2024The defendant’s intention to kill “need not exist for any specified length of time prior to the actual killing.” Kirby v. Commonwealth, 50 Va. App. 691, 700 (2007) (quoting - 12 - Remington v. Commonwealth, 262 Va. 333, 352 (2001)). 2024The intention to kill “need not exist for any specified length of time prior to the actual killing.” Kirby v. Commonwealth, 50 Va. App. 691, 700 (2007) (quoting Remington v. Commonwealth, 262 Va. 333, 352 (2001)). | 3 | 3 |
Clozza v. Commonwealthgreen2 sentences2026Relevant circumstantial factors include “the brutality of an attack, whether more than one blow was struck, the disparity in size and strength between the accused and the victim, the concealment of the victim’s body, and the defendant’s efforts to avoid detection.” Clozza v. Commonwealth, 228 Va. 124, 134 (1984). 2024In order to show a willful, deliberate, premeditated killing, “[t]he intention to kill need not exist for any specified length of time prior to the actual killing.” Clozza v. Commonwealth, 228 Va. 124, 134 (1984). | 2 | 2 |
Betancourt v. Commonwealthgreen2 sentences2026A combination of circumstantial factors may be sufficient.” Id. (quoting Betancourt v. Commonwealth, 26 Va. App. 363, 373 (1998)). 2021A combination of circumstantial factors may be sufficient.” Betancourt v. Commonwealth, 26 Va. App. 363, 373 (1998) (quoting Rhodes, 238 Va. at 486 ). | 2 | 2 |
Edmonds v. Commonwealthgreen2 sentences2008A combination of circumstantial factors may be sufficient.’” Pender v. Angelone, Director, Virginia Dept. of Corrections, 257 Va. 501, 508 , 514 S.E.2d 756, 759 (1999) (quoting Rhodes v. Commonwealth, 238 Va. 480, 486 , 384 S.E.2d 95, 98 (1989) (citing Epperly, 224 Va. at 232 , 294 S.E.2d at 892-93 )); see Edmonds v. Commonwealth, 229 Va. 303, 308 , 329 S.E.2d 807, 811 (1985) (“[A]bsent eyewitness testimony or a voluntary confession, that question [of whether a killing was premeditated] necessarily turns upon the import of circumstantial evidence.” (citing Epperly, 224 Va. at 232 , 294 S.E.2d 2008A combination of circumstantial factors may be sufficient.’” Pender v. Angelone, Director, Virginia Dept. of Corrections, 257 Va. 501, 508 , 514 S.E.2d 756, 759 (1999) (quoting Rhodes v. Commonwealth, 238 Va. 480, 486 , 384 S.E.2d 95, 98 (1989) (citing Epperly, 224 Va. at 232 , 294 S.E.2d at 892-93 )); see Edmonds v. Commonwealth, 229 Va. 303, 308 , 329 S.E.2d 807, 811 (1985) (“[A]bsent eyewitness testimony or a voluntary confession, that question [of whether a killing was premeditated] necessarily turns upon the import of circumstantial evidence.” (citing Epperly, 224 Va. at 232 , 294 S.E.2d | 2 | 2 |
Smith v. Commonwealthgreen2 sentences2023“The intent to kill must come into existence at some time before the killing; it need not exist for any particular length of time.” Epperly v. Commonwealth, 224 Va. 214, 231 (1982) (quoting Smith v. Commonwealth, 220 Va. 696, 700 (1980)). 1992A combination of circumstantial factors may be sufficient.” Id. at 486 , 384 S.E.2d at 98 (citing Epperly v. Commonwealth, 224 Va. 214, 232 , 294 S.E.2d 882, 892-93 (1982)). | 1 | 2 |
Dowden v. Commonwealthgreen1 sentence2026And crucially, “circumstantial evidence is competent and is entitled to as much weight as direct evidence provided that the circumstantial evidence is sufficiently convincing to exclude every reasonable hypothesis except that of guilt.” Dowden v. Commonwealth, 260 Va. 459, 468 (2000). | 1 | 1 |
Viney v. Com.green1 sentence2025“Indeed, ‘[i]ntent may be, and most often is, proven by circumstantial evidence and the reasonable inferences to be drawn from proven facts.’” Secret v. Commonwealth, 296 Va. 204 , 229 (2018) (alteration in original) (quoting Viney v. Commonwealth, 269 Va. 296, 301 (2005)). | 1 | 1 |
Pender v. Angelonegreen2 sentences2008A combination of circumstantial factors may be sufficient.’” Pender v. Angelone, Director, Virginia Dept. of Corrections, 257 Va. 501, 508 , 514 S.E.2d 756, 759 (1999) (quoting Rhodes v. Commonwealth, 238 Va. 480, 486 , 384 S.E.2d 95, 98 (1989) (citing Epperly, 224 Va. at 232 , 294 S.E.2d at 892-93 )); see Edmonds v. Commonwealth, 229 Va. 303, 308 , 329 S.E.2d 807, 811 (1985) (“[A]bsent eyewitness testimony or a voluntary confession, that question [of whether a killing was premeditated] necessarily turns upon the import of circumstantial evidence.” (citing Epperly, 224 Va. at 232 , 294 S.E.2d 2008A combination of circumstantial factors may be sufficient.’” Pender v. Angelone, Director, Virginia Dept. of Corrections, 257 Va. 501, 508 , 514 S.E.2d 756, 759 (1999) (quoting Rhodes v. Commonwealth, 238 Va. 480, 486 , 384 S.E.2d 95, 98 (1989) (citing Epperly, 224 Va. at 232 , 294 S.E.2d at 892-93 )); see Edmonds v. Commonwealth, 229 Va. 303, 308 , 329 S.E.2d 807, 811 (1985) (“[A]bsent eyewitness testimony or a voluntary confession, that question [of whether a killing was premeditated] necessarily turns upon the import of circumstantial evidence.” (citing Epperly, 224 Va. at 232 , 294 S.E.2d | 1 | 1 |
| Case | Negative | Cited |
|---|---|---|
| No negative-treatment citations attached to this issue in Virginia. Read the followed side critically anyway. | ||
| Case | Cited | Years |
|---|---|---|
Jackson v. Virginia
red
1 sentence2026A combination of circumstantial factors may be sufficient.” Id. (quoting Betancourt v. Commonwealth, 26 Va. App. 363, 373 (1998)). | 1 | 2026–2026 |
Secret v. Commonwealth
green
1 sentence2025“Indeed, ‘[i]ntent may be, and most often is, proven by circumstantial evidence and the reasonable inferences to be drawn from proven facts.’” Secret v. Commonwealth, 296 Va. 204 , 229 (2018) (alteration in original) (quoting Viney v. Commonwealth, 269 Va. 296, 301 (2005)). | 1 | 2025–2025 |
Archie v. Commonwealth
green
1 sentence2024A combination of circumstantial factors may be sufficient.” Id. at 373 (quoting Rhodes, 238 Va. at 486 ). | 1 | 2024–2024 |
Counted by distinct opinions that both name this issue and are annotated to the section; sections every opinion cites regardless of issue are not filtered here, so read the counts against the total above.