Goins v. Commonwealth

Present: All the Justices

CHRISTOPHER C. GOINS

v. Record Nos. 951869, 951870
OPINION BY JUSTICE BARBARA MILANO KEENAN
April 19, 1996
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND
Thomas N. Nance, Judge

In this appeal, we review the capital murder conviction and

the death sentence imposed on Christopher C. Goins, along with

his convictions for first degree murder, malicious wounding, and

use of a firearm in the commission of murder and malicious

wounding.
I. Proceedings

Goins was indicted for capital murder for the killing of

Robert Jones, based on the willful, deliberate, and premeditated

killing of more than one person as part of the same act or

transaction. Code § 18.2-31(7). He was also indicted on four

charges of first degree murder for the killing of Daphne Jones,

Nicole Jones, David Jones, and James Nathaniel Randolph, Jr.

Code § 18.2-32. Finally, Goins was indicted for the malicious

wounding of Tamika Jones and Kenya Jones, and for seven charges

of use of a firearm during the commission of each of these

felonies. Code §§ 18.2-51 and -53.1.

In the first stage of a bifurcated jury trial conducted

pursuant to Code § 19.2-264.3, the jury convicted Goins of all

offenses charged in the indictments. The jury fixed his

punishment at four terms of life imprisonment for the first

degree murder convictions, two terms of twenty years'
imprisonment for the malicious wounding convictions, and six

terms of five years' imprisonment, as well as one term of three

years' imprisonment, for the convictions of use of a firearm in

the commission of a felony.

At the penalty phase of the capital murder trial, the jury

heard evidence in aggravation and mitigation of the offense and

fixed Goins' punishment for capital murder at death, based on

findings of both "future dangerousness" and "vileness." After

considering the probation officer's report and conducting a

sentencing hearing, the trial court sentenced Goins in accordance

with the jury verdicts. Under Code § 17-116.06, we have

certified Goins' appeals of his non-capital convictions from the

Court of Appeals, which we have consolidated with his appeal of

the capital murder conviction and our review of the death

sentence.
II. The Evidence

We review the evidence in the light most favorable to the

Commonwealth, the prevailing party below. Cheng v. Commonwealth,

240 Va. 26, 42, 393 S.E.2d 599, 608 (1990). On the morning of

October 14, 1994, Goins and his friend Barry Scott arrived at the

home of Tamika Jones, where Tamika and the six other members of

her family were present. Both Goins and Scott were friends of

the Jones family.

Tamika, who was 14 years old, was seven months pregnant with

Goins' child and recently had returned from the hospital after

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receiving treatment for complications related to the pregnancy.

When Scott attempted to show Goins an ultrasound photograph of

the fetus, Goins refused to look and became angry.

Tamika saw Goins in the living room, but was in her bedroom

when she later heard him participating in a conversation in the

kitchen. The conversation was interrupted by the sound of

gunfire. The shots were fired rapidly and were followed by

screams, crying, and the sound of a single set of footsteps in

the hall. Tamika stated that she then heard more shots and saw

"flashes in the hall."
Goins appeared in the doorway of Tamika's bedroom and shot

her nine times. He also shot her 21-month-old sister, Kenya,

whom Tamika had attempted to shield with her body.

When Tamika believed that Goins had left the apartment, she

telephoned "911" for emergency assistance. She told the operator

that Goins had shot her. The operator asked if anyone was with

her. Tamika responded, "Yes. He shot them too."

When the City of Richmond police arrived at the Jones' home,

they determined that all the members of the Jones family had been

shot. Only Tamika and Kenya survived. In the kitchen, the

police found the body of Tamika's four-year-old brother, David,

as well as the bodies of her parents, Daphne Jones and James

Randolph, Jr. In one of the bedrooms, the police found the

bodies of Nicole Jones, Tamika's nine-year-old sister, and Robert

Jones, Tamika's three-year-old brother.

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 Daphne Jones was shot four times, twice in the head, once in

the left wrist, and once in the right leg. Both of the gunshot

wounds to her head were lethal. One of these wounds showed

evidence of "stippling," consisting of burned and unburned gun

powder, which indicated that the gun was fired within a few feet

of her head.

James Randolph, Jr. was shot nine times, twice in the head,

three times in the left arm and chest, once in the abdomen, once

in the right arm, once in the left leg, and once on the chin.

Four of these wounds were lethal. The evidence showed that some

of the shots were fired from less than "arm's length" and other

shots were fired after Randolph had fallen to the ground.
David died as a result of a lethal gunshot wound to the

head. This wound also showed evidence of stippling. Nicole

suffered two lethal gunshot wounds. One bullet passed through

her heart and a lung. The other bullet was fired into her head

at close range. Robert sustained two lethal gunshot wounds to

his head. Kenya sustained a wound, measuring between two and

three inches long, through her left wrist.

Tamika was shot three times in the abdomen, three times in

her thighs, once in her right hand, once in the neck, and once in

her left shoulder. Her obstetrician performed a hysterectomy on

her after the shootings, because multiple bullets had perforated

her uterus and her right ovary and fallopian tube. When removed

from the uterus, the fetus had sustained a gunshot wound to its

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face and was dead.

The police retrieved from the kitchen seven .45 caliber

cartridge casings, various bullets, and bullet jacket fragments.

In the bedroom where Nicole and Robert were shot, the police

found two .45 caliber cartridge casings, as well as two bullets,

a bullet jacket, and a lead fragment. In the bedroom where

Tamika and Kenya had been shot, the police recovered six .45

caliber cartridge casings and two bullets. No weapon was found.
James L. Pickelman, a firearms identification expert at the

Commonwealth's Division of Forensic Science, explained that

hollow point bullets, such as those used in the commission of

these offenses, are designed by the manufacturer to explode on

impact with the target. Frequently, at the point of impact, the

bullet core separates from its jacket. Pickelman examined the

weight and rifling characteristics of the bullets, bullet

jackets, and jacket fragments recovered from the apartment and

the victims' bodies. He testified that all these items were ".45

auto caliber."

After examining the rifling marks on the bullet jackets and

jacket fragments retrieved from Jones' apartment, Pickelman

concluded that the bullet jackets were ejected from a firearm

constructed by a manufacturer who uses polygonal rifling.

Pickelman also stated that Glock, Inc. is the major manufacturer

which uses this type rifling in the design of its firearms.

Ann D. Jones, also an expert in firearms identification at

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the Division of Forensic Science, compared the various

microscopic markings on each cartridge casing that was recovered.

Her examination of these markings established that all the

cartridge casings were fired from the same .45 caliber Glock

pistol. Jones stated that .45 caliber Glock pistols produce an

elliptical shape firing pin impression, which is unique to that

brand and type of pistol. She observed this impression on all

the cartridge casings recovered from the crime scene.
Jones also testified that she compared the markings on one

of the cartridge casings found at the crime scene with the

markings on the unfired .45 caliber cartridge found in the home

of Monique Littlejohn, Goins' girlfriend. Jones observed that

these items exhibited the same extractor marks and concluded that

both items had been in the same weapon.

On two occasions, the police searched Littlejohn's

apartment. In addition to the unfired .45 caliber cartridge,

they found an instruction manual for Glock pistols lying on the

floor near some men's clothing.

In Littlejohn's automobile, the police found a Sam's Club

identification card. Although Goins' photograph appeared on the

card, the card was issued in the name of Derrick Reardon. Two

other identification cards were also found in Littlejohn's car.

Both cards were issued in the name of Derrick Reardon, but

displayed Goins' picture. Investigators also found a high school

equivalency diploma issued in the name of Derrick Lydell Reardon

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in Littlejohn's vehicle, as well as the business card of a

taxicab driver, Parrish Davis.

Approximately one month after the shootings, Goins was

apprehended in New York with Monique Littlejohn. At the time of

his arrest, Goins had shaved his head.

Parrish Davis, who had known Goins for several months prior

to the shootings, testified that Goins had been a passenger in

his taxicab approximately once or twice each week during those

months. Davis stated that, during this time, Goins was living

with Littlejohn at her apartment.
Davis also stated that about one week before the shootings,

he had a conversation with Goins, in which Goins stated that he

was upset because Tamika was pregnant by him. Goins told Davis

that "he wanted to do away with her and her family." At that

time, Davis did not believe that Goins intended to harm the Jones

family. However, Davis stated that he and Goins occasionally

discussed the subject of .45 caliber pistols.

Davis also testified that he spoke with Goins on the evening

of October 14, 1994, after the shootings. During that

conversation, Goins asked Davis to drive him out of town in the

trunk of a friend's car. Davis refused to do so.

After the Commonwealth rested its case, Goins presented

testimony from two witnesses. Mildred S. Plumber, an employee of

the taxicab company for which Davis worked, testified that

company records for October 1994 indicated Davis had reported no

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fares for service to or from the address at which Littlejohn and

Goins lived. However, Plumber conceded that Davis might have

provided service to that location and not have reported the fares

to the company.

Goins also offered the testimony of Jason Lamont Williams,

who stated that, during the week before the killings, he "might

have" ridden with Goins in a taxicab driven by Davis. Williams

stated that Goins never said anything in his presence about guns

or about "doing away" with Tamika Jones or her family.
On cross-examination, the Commonwealth's attorney asked

Williams, "Do you or have you in the past sold drugs for Mr.

Goins?" The trial court sustained Goins' objection to the

question. The Commonwealth's attorney then asked, "Sir, have you

ever told your probation officer, Ms. Bircham, that you sold

drugs for this defendant?" Once again, the trial court sustained

Goins' objection to the question. Finally, the trial court

permitted the Commonwealth's attorney to ask Williams, "Did you

ever tell your probation officer, Ms. Bircham, that you had a

business relationship with Mr. Goins?" Williams responded, "No."

During the penalty phase of the trial, the Commonwealth

offered testimony from Detective John J. Riani of the Henrico

County Police Department, who testified that, in February 1994,

he had encountered Goins while working as a narcotics

investigator at the Amtrack station on Staples Mill Road. Goins

had alighted from a train arriving from New York when Riani

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approached and asked him some questions. When Goins later

consented to a search of his bags and clothing, Riani found 55.35

grams of crack cocaine in a bag inside Goins' coat pocket. This

amount of cocaine had a "street value" of approximately $5,500.

Riani then arrested Goins for possession of cocaine with

intent to distribute. Goins told Riani that he was addicted to

crack cocaine.

Goins never appeared for trial and a capias was issued for

his arrest. Both the cocaine charge and the capias remained

outstanding at the time of the present offenses.
The Commonwealth also presented evidence from Dr. Jack

Daniel, Assistant Chief Medical Examiner for the Commonwealth.

Dr. Daniel testified that James Randolph, Jr., Nicole Jones, and

Robert Jones all suffered multiple lethal gunshot wounds. He

also testified that one of Nicole's lethal wounds occurred while

she was lying face down. In addition, Dr. Daniel stated that the

dried blood on Robert's face indicated that Robert had not moved

after he was shot the first time.

In mitigation of the offenses, Goins presented the testimony

of Paulette Goins Dickerson, his mother's sister. Dickerson

testified that Goins' mother had used drugs frequently in front

of Goins. Dickerson also testified that Goins has an aunt who

abuses drugs, and that another of his aunts died of AIDS acquired

from drug use. Dickerson further related that Goins has an uncle

who is incarcerated in New York. Another uncle is mentally

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handicapped, as a result of a head injury sustained at age two

when Goins' mother pushed him out of a third-story window.

Dickerson also testified that, when Goins was 12 years old,

he moved from Richmond to New York to live with his grandmother

because his mother had abused him. Dickerson stated that Goins'

mother never held, hugged, or nurtured any of her children.

According to Dickerson, Goins was devastated when his grandmother

died, because she was the only person who had shown him any love.
Goins' cousin, Leah Butler, testified that she had lived

briefly in the same household with Goins and had observed his

mother use drugs and neglect her children. Butler also testified

that Goins is a caring, "giving" man. Butler's son, Phillip, age

six, testified that he liked Goins, and that Goins would often

play games with him and bring him candy.

III. Issues Previously Decided

Goins has advanced a number of arguments that we have

rejected in previous decisions. Finding no reason to modify our

previously expressed views, we will reaffirm our earlier

decisions and reject the following contentions:

A. The death penalty statutes do not give meaningful

guidance to jurors that they may impose a death sentence only if

they determine beyond a reasonable doubt that aggravating

circumstances outweigh mitigating ones. Rejected in Williams v.

Commonwealth, 248 Va. 528, 535, 450 S.E.2d 365, 371 (1994), cert.
denied, ___ U.S. ___, 115 S.Ct. 2616 (1995); Breard v.

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Commonwealth, 248 Va. 68, 74, 445 S.E.2d 670, 674-75, cert.

denied, ___ U.S. ___, 115 S.Ct. 442 (1994).

B. The death penalty statutes fail to instruct the jury

properly on its consideration of mitigating evidence. Rejected

in Graham v. Commonwealth, 250 Va. 79, 85, 459 S.E.2d 97, 100,

cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 116 S.Ct. 535 (1995).

C. The aggravating factors of "vileness" and "future

dangerousness" are unconstitutionally vague. Rejected in Breard,

248 Va. at 74, 445 S.E.2d at 675.
D. Future dangerousness may not be proved by unadjudicated

conduct unless the conduct is established beyond a reasonable

doubt. Rejected in Williams, 248 Va. at 536, 450 S.E.2d at 371.

E. The death penalty as administered in Virginia

constitutes cruel and unusual punishment and is imposed in an

arbitrary and a discriminatory manner. Rejected in Chandler v.

Commonwealth, 249 Va. 270, 276, 455 S.E.2d 219, 223, cert.

denied, ___ U.S. ___, 116 S.Ct. 233 (1995); Smith v.
Commonwealth, 219 Va. 455, 476, 248 S.E.2d 135, 148 (1978), cert.

denied, 441 U.S. 967 (1979).

F. The death penalty statutes are unconstitutional because

they allow, but do not require, the trial court to set aside the

death sentence upon a showing of good cause and permit the court

to consider hearsay in the post-sentence report. Rejected in

Chandler, 249 Va. at 276, 455 S.E.2d at 223.

G. The appellate review procedures for death sentences in

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Virginia, including the expedited review process, are

unconstitutional. Rejected in Smith v. Commonwealth, 239 Va.

243, 253, 389 S.E.2d 871, 876, cert. denied, 498 U.S. 881 (1990);

Payne v. Commonwealth, 233 Va. 460, 473-74, 357 S.E.2d 500, 508-

09, cert. denied, 484 U.S. 933 (1987).

H. The denial of questions during voir dire, jury

instructions, and other information about the fact that the

defendant would be required to serve a minimum of 25 years before

becoming eligible for parole. Rejected in Joseph v.
Commonwealth, 249 Va. 78, 84, 452 S.E.2d 862, 866, cert. denied,

___ U.S. ___, 116 S.Ct. 204 (1995). Under the principles

expressed in Joseph, the trial court also properly rejected

Goins' request to introduce evidence of parole eligibility at the

sentencing phase.

I. The denial of an asserted right to exercise additional

peremptory challenges. Rejected in Beavers v. Commonwealth, 245

Va. 268, 273, 427 S.E.2d 411, 416, cert. denied, 510 U.S. ___,

114 S.Ct. 171 (1993).

J. The denial of individual voir dire of potential jurors.

Rejected in Chichester v. Commonwealth, 248 Va. 311, 319, 448
S.E.2d 638, 644 (1994), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 115 S.Ct.

1134 (1995).

K. The denial of a request to mail a questionnaire to all

potential jurors. Rejected in Strickler v. Commonwealth, 241 Va.

482, 489-90, 404 S.E.2d 227, 232, cert. denied, 502 U.S. 944

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(1991).

IV. Pretrial Matters

A. Bill of Particulars

Goins filed a motion for a bill of particulars. During a

hearing on the motion, he conceded that the Commonwealth already

had provided him all information required by Virginia law. The

trial court denied Goins' request for an additional statement of

all evidence on which the Commonwealth intended to rely to prove

the offense of capital murder and the death penalty predicates.
Goins argues that the trial court's denial of this request

impeded his ability to make pretrial challenges to the

application of the capital murder and death penalty statutes, and

to file timely motions for suppression of the evidence on Fourth

and Fifth Amendment grounds. Goins also asserts that, under

Godfrey v. Georgia, 446 U.S. 420 (1980), the Commonwealth was

required to state in a bill of particulars its "narrowing

constructions of the 'vileness' factor." We disagree.

A defendant is not entitled to a bill of particulars as a

matter of right. Code § 19.2-230 provides that a trial court

"may direct the filing of a bill of particulars." Thus, the

trial court's decision whether to require the Commonwealth to

file a bill of particulars is a matter committed to its sound

discretion. Quesinberry v. Commonwealth, 241 Va. 364, 372, 402

S.E.2d 218, 223, cert. denied, 502 U.S. 834 (1991).

A bill of particulars is not required if the indictment

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provides a defendant sufficient "notice of the nature and

character of the offense charged so he can make his defense."

Wilder v. Commonwealth, 217 Va. 145, 147, 225 S.E.2d 411, 413

(1976). We conclude that the capital murder indictment, the only

indictment challenged in this assignment of error, met that

standard. 1

In addition, contrary to Goins' assertion, Godfrey does not

require the Commonwealth to state in a bill of particulars its

construction of the "vileness" predicate or its evidence

supporting a finding under that predicate. Godfrey addresses the

issue of what instructions must be given to a jury considering

the "vileness" predicate, in order to prevent "[t]he standardless

and unchanneled imposition of death sentences in the uncontrolled

discretion of a basically uninstructed jury." 446 U.S. at 429.

Godfrey mandates that the jury and reviewing court be provided a

"principled way to distinguish this case . . . from the many

cases" in which the death penalty is not imposed. Id. at 433.

Thus, Godfrey is inapposite to the present issue, which involves

1
The capital murder indictment alleged that "[o]n or about

October 14, 1994, in the City of Richmond, Christopher Cornelius

Goins did feloniously and unlawfully commit capital murder in

that he did kill and murder Robert Jones in a willful, deliberate

and premeditated killing of more than one person as part of the

same act or transaction."

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only Goins' motion for a bill of particulars.

In addition, the record fails to show that the denial of

Goins' request for a bill of particulars impaired his ability to

challenge the application of the capital murder and death penalty

statutes, or to file suppression motions based on Fourth and

Fifth Amendment grounds. Therefore, we conclude that the trial

court did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion for a

bill of particulars.
B. Discovery

Next, Goins contends that the trial court erred in denying

his motion for discovery of the results of a polygraph test

administered to Barry Scott. Goins argues that the Commonwealth

was required to produce the polygraph test results because they

may have contained exculpatory evidence and impeachment material.

Goins also contends that the trial court erred in denying

his motion for production of all documents, diagrams, and

sketches relating to the case that were shown to any of the

Commonwealth's potential witnesses. Goins acknowledges that this

request exceeded the requirements of Rule 3A:11. Nevertheless,

he argues that, based on the number and nature of the charges

against him, the trial court was required to order discovery of

all exculpatory evidence and all other evidence that the

Commonwealth intended to offer to establish his guilt. Goins

asserts that the denial of these discovery requests violated his

rights under the due process, compulsory process, and

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confrontation clauses of the United States Constitution. 2 We

disagree.

The Commonwealth is required to provide a defendant

exculpatory evidence, including evidence which impeaches the

credibility of a prosecution witness. Brady v. Maryland, 373

U.S. 83, 87 (1963); Robinson v. Commonwealth, 231 Va. 142, 150,

341 S.E.2d 159, 164 (1986). However, a defendant does not have a

general constitutional right to discovery in a criminal case.
Lowe v. Commonwealth, 218 Va. 670, 679, 239 S.E.2d 112, 118

(1977), cert. denied, 435 U.S. 930 (1978) (citing Weatherford v.

Bursey, 429 U.S. 545, 559 (1977)).

In order for a defendant to establish a Brady violation, he

must demonstrate that the undisclosed evidence was exculpatory

and material either to the issue of guilt or to the issue of

punishment. Lowe, 218 Va. at 679, 239 S.E.2d at 118. The mere

possibility that "undisclosed information might have helped the

defense, or might have affected the outcome of the trial, does

not establish 'materiality' in the constitutional sense." United

2
Goins also argues that the denial of the discovery motions

impeded his right to the effective assistance of counsel. This

claim, however, is not reviewable on direct appeal. Walker v.

Mitchell, 224 Va. 568, 570-71, 299 S.E.2d 698, 699 (1983);

Browning v. Commonwealth, 19 Va. App. 295, 297 n.2, 452 S.E.2d

360, 362 n.2 (1994); see Acts 1990, ch.74.

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States v. Agurs, 427 U.S. 97, 109-110 (1976).

The present record does not show that the Commonwealth

withheld exculpatory information. In fact, the Commonwealth's

attorney stated that he would disclose any prior statements of

witnesses that were inconsistent with their anticipated trial

testimony. Thus, since the record fails to show that the

Commonwealth withheld from Goins exculpatory evidence, and since

Goins concedes that the Commonwealth provided all other discovery

required under Rule 3A:11, we conclude that the trial court did

not violate Goins' right of due process in its discovery ruling.
We also hold that the trial court did not violate Goins'

rights under the confrontation and compulsory process clauses of

the Sixth Amendment. A defendant's rights under the

confrontation clause are trial rights which are designed to

prevent the improper restriction of cross-examination. These

rights "[do] not include the power to require the pretrial

disclosure of any and all information that might be useful in

contradicting unfavorable testimony." Pennsylvania v. Ritchie,

480 U.S. 39, 53 (1987). These rights are "satisfied if defense

counsel receives wide latitude at trial to question witnesses."

Id. Thus, Goins' rights of confrontation were not denied by the

trial court's discovery ruling.

The compulsory process clause provides a defendant with

government assistance in compelling the presence of favorable

witnesses at trial. Id. at 56. This right has never been

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extended to include the right to discover the identity of

witnesses or to require the government to produce witnesses who

might give exculpatory testimony. Instead, the Supreme Court has

concluded that the right of compulsory process "provides no

greater protections in this area than those afforded by due

process." Id.; see also United States v. Valenzuela-Bernal, 458

U.S. 858, 872-73 (1982).

The denial of Goins' extended discovery request was

unrelated to his right to obtain government assistance in

compelling the attendance of witnesses. Thus, the trial court

did not deny Goins' right of compulsory process when it denied

his discovery request.
C. Voir Dire

Goins requested the trial court to ask potential jurors

questions from a prepared list. The trial court refused to ask

certain questions. 3 Goins contends that the trial court erred in

3
The refused questions were:

What activities, if any, are you involved with at present
for your church, temple, or other religious organization?
Have you ever been a member of an organization, religious or
otherwise, that has taken a position opposed to legalized
abortions? If so, what?
Have you personally taken a position in opposition to
legalized abortions?
Are you a member of any organization, religious
denomination, or other group that has taken a position in support
of the death penalty?
Which political party do you usually support?
[H]ave you or a member of your family, or any close friend,
ever had an opportunity to see the inside of a prison, jail, or
other correctional facility?
What are your impressions of the ability of psychologists or

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refusing to ask these questions because they were relevant to

establishing relationship, interest, opinion, or prejudice. We

disagree.

Code § 8.01-358 provides that
[t]he court and counsel for either party shall have the
right to examine under oath any person who is called as
a juror therein and shall have the right to ask such
person or juror directly any relevant question to
ascertain whether he is related to either party, or has
an interest in the cause, or has expressed or formed
any opinion, or is sensible of any bias or prejudice
therein.

This section provides a party the right to ask potential jurors
(..continued)
psychiatrists to understand the human mind?
What are your views as to the major causes of crime in our
society?
Have you ever experienced fear of a person of another race?
If so, what were the circumstances?
Do you think that African-Americans are more likely to
commit crimes than whites? If so, why?
Tell us what your views are about the death penalty and why.
Why is the death penalty a good idea or not a good idea?
What is your opinion about the philosophy of "an eye for an
eye" as it concerns the use of the death penalty as punishment
for murder?
What types of situations do you think the death penalty
might be appropriate for? In such situations, do you think the
death penalty should always be imposed?
Do you think that imprisonment for life is a severe enough
punishment for someone who has been convicted of any type of
murder? Would the age of such a convicted person affect your
thinking?
Where do your feelings about the death penalty come from?
Have your feelings about it changed over the years?
Is your feeling about the death penalty strong enough to
affect your vote in favor of or against a political candidate
because of his or her position on the death penalty?
Occasionally one reads in the newspaper, or hears on T.V.
news, about a person sentenced to death who was later found to be
innocent. How does that fact affect your opinion about the death
penalty?
Why do you think we are asking all these questions about the
death penalty?

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questions relevant to the statutory factors of relationship,

interest, opinion, or bias. A party has no right, however, "to

extend voir dire questioning ad infinitum." LeVasseur v.

Commonwealth, 225 Va. 564, 581, 304 S.E.2d 644, 653 (1983), cert.

denied, 464 U.S. 1063 (1984). A party must have a full and fair

opportunity to determine whether the statutory factors are

present, but the trial court retains discretion to determine when

a defendant has had such an opportunity. Id.; Buchanan v.
Commonwealth, 238 Va. 389, 401, 384 S.E.2d 757, 764 (1989), cert.

denied, 493 U.S. 1063 (1990).

Here, the trial court permitted extensive questioning of

potential jurors relevant to all statutory factors outlined in

Code § 8.01-358. Thus, since Goins had ample opportunity to ask

relevant questions, and since the questions asked were sufficient

to preserve Goins' right to trial by a fair and impartial jury,

we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in

refusing to ask additional questions. For these reasons, we also

conclude that the refusal to ask these questions during voir dire

did not violate Goins' rights under the Sixth, Eighth, and

Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution.

V. Guilt Phase Issues

In a pretrial motion and again at trial, Goins asked that

the Commonwealth be prohibited from introducing into evidence a

videotape of the crime scene and photographs of the victims and a

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gun. The trial court ordered that segments of the videotape be

deleted, but denied Goins' motion with respect to the remaining

portion of the tape and with respect to all the photographs.

Goins argues that these items were calculated to arouse the

jury's sympathies and were not needed to prove the Commonwealth's

case. Since the identification of the victims was not disputed,

Goins contends that the prejudicial impact of the videotape and

photographs outweighed their probative value.
Photographs and videotapes of crime scenes are admissible to

show motive, intent, method, malice, premeditation, and the

atrociousness of the crime. Spencer v. Commonwealth, 238 Va.

295, 312, 384 S.E.2d 785, 796 (1989), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 1093

(1990); Stamper v. Commonwealth, 220 Va. 260, 270-71, 257 S.E.2d

808, 816 (1979), cert. denied, 445 U.S. 972 (1980). If the

photographs accurately depict the crime scene, they are not

rendered inadmissible simply because they are gruesome or

shocking. Gray v. Commonwealth, 233 Va. 313, 343, 356 S.E.2d

157, 173, cert. denied, 484 U.S. 873 (1987). Further, the

admissibility of photographs and videotapes rests within the

sound discretion of the trial court. Id. at 342, 356 S.E.2d at

173; Swann v. Commonwealth, 247 Va. 222, 235, 441 S.E.2d 195,

204, cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 115 S.Ct. 234 (1994).

Here, the photographs and the videotape were relevant

evidence. The photographs, coupled with the testimony of the

medical examiners, demonstrated the nature of the wounds and the

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position of the victims after they were shot. In addition, the

videotape, which showed the positions of the victims relative to

each other in the apartment, was relevant to the issue whether

the shootings were willful, deliberate, and premeditated. The

videotape and the photographs also were relevant to the

Commonwealth's theory of the sequence in which the shootings

occurred. We conclude that the probative value of this evidence

outweighed any potential prejudicial effect and, thus, that the

trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting these items

into evidence.
Goins also objected to the trial court's admission of the

tape-recorded conversation between the "911" emergency operator

and Tamika Jones, in which Tamika stated that Goins had shot the

other people in the apartment. Goins argues that Tamika's

statement was not based on firsthand knowledge because she did

not witness the shootings of five family members. Thus, Goins

contends that the statement is inadmissible hearsay. The

Commonwealth responds that the statement was properly admitted as

an "excited utterance." We agree with the Commonwealth.

A statement comes within the excited utterance exception to

the hearsay rule and is admissible to prove the truth of the

matter stated, when the statement is spontaneous and impulsive,

thus guaranteeing its reliability. Clark v. Commonwealth, 235

Va. 287, 292, 367 S.E.2d 483, 485 (1988). "There is no fixed

rule by which the question whether the statement is admissible as

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an excited utterance can be decided. Resolution of the issue

depends upon the circumstances of each case." Id., 367 S.E.2d at

486.

The statement must be prompted by a startling event and be

made at such time and under such circumstances as to preclude the

presumption that it was made as the result of deliberation.

Goins v. Commonwealth, 218 Va. 285, 287, 237 S.E.2d 136, 138

(1977). In addition, the declarant must have firsthand knowledge

of the startling event. See John W. Strong, McCormick on

Evidence § 272 (4th ed. 1992). The decision whether the

statement qualifies as an excited utterance lies within the

discretion of the trial court. Clark, 235 Va. at 292, 367 S.E.2d

at 486.

The totality of the circumstances surrounding Tamika's

statement satisfies these requirements. Tamika made the

statement within minutes of the shootings, as soon as she

believed that Goins had left the apartment. Her statement, "[h]e

shot them too," was not responsive to the question posed by the

operator, nor was it prompted or suggested by the operator.

The record contains sufficient evidence to establish that

Tamika was still acting under the agitation of the startling

event, and that she spoke based on her firsthand knowledge of the

screaming, the single set of footsteps in the hall, the gunshots,

and her observation of Goins both before and after the shooting

began. These perceptions and observations were sufficient to

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give her firsthand knowledge of all the events even though she

did not see the killings take place. Based on these

circumstances, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its

discretion in admitting the tape-recorded conversation.

Goins also argues that the trial court erred in admitting

Parrish Davis' testimony that Goins stated he wanted to "do away"

with Tamika and her family. Goins contends that this statement

was inadmissible hearsay. The Commonwealth responds that the

statement was properly admitted under the "party admission"

exception to the hearsay rule.
A statement made by a party is admissible in evidence

against him. "An admission deliberately made, precisely

identified and clearly proved affords evidence of a most

satisfactory nature and may furnish the strongest and most

convincing evidence of truth." Tyree v. Lariew, 208 Va. 382,

385, 158 S.E.2d 140, 143 (1967). The admission may relate to a

past act or to a future event.

A prior statement of a threatening nature made by a criminal

defendant is admissible to prove premeditation. For example, in
Smith v. Commonwealth, 220 Va. 696, 702, 261 S.E.2d 550, 554

(1980), in which the defendant was tried for first degree murder,

we held that the defendant's extrajudicial statement, "I've got

it in for someone," was admissible as a party admission.

In the present case, the testimony of Davis precisely

identified an admission that was deliberately made. Like the

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defendant's statement in Smith, Goins' statement provided

evidence of premeditation. Nevertheless, Goins asserts that,

since Davis did not believe that Goins "was being serious" when

he made the statement, it was thereby rendered false and

inadmissible. We disagree.

In the case of a party admission, the credibility of the

extrajudicial declarant is not an issue affecting the

admissibility of the statement, because the party need not cross-

examine his own statement in order to be in a position to deny,

contradict, or explain the statement. See Charles E. Friend, 2

The Law of Evidence in Virginia § 18-34 (4th ed. 1993).

Therefore, we conclude that the trial court did not err in

admitting this testimony into evidence.

Next, Goins contends that the trial court erred in admitting

into evidence the business card of Parrish Davis. He argues that

this evidence was irrelevant and prejudicial. We disagree.

Evidence is relevant if it has any logical tendency to prove

an issue in a case. Coe v. Commonwealth, 231 Va. 83, 87, 340

S.E.2d 820, 823 (1986). Relevant evidence may be excluded only

if the prejudicial effect of the evidence outweighs its probative

value. The question whether the prejudicial effect of evidence

exceeds its probative value lies within the trial court's

discretion. Id.

Here, Davis' business card, which was found in Littlejohn's

car, was relevant evidence that tended to corroborate Davis'

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testimony about his acquaintance with Goins. The card was not

cumulative evidence and there is no indication that its admission

had an undue prejudicial effect. Therefore, we conclude that the

trial court did not abuse its discretion in allowing the card

into evidence.

Goins also contends that the various identification cards

bearing his photograph with the name of Derrick Reardon, and the

high school diploma issued in the name of Derrick Reardon, were

inadmissible evidence of "prior bad acts." He argues that this

evidence was inadmissible because there was no direct link

between that evidence and the elements of the crimes charged. He

further contends that the evidence was highly prejudicial because

it encouraged the jury to make an impermissible inference that

Goins was predisposed to criminal activity.
Evidence of other crimes or bad acts is inadmissible if it

is offered merely to show that the defendant is likely to have

committed the crime charged. Kirkpatrick v. Commonwealth, 211

Va. 269, 272, 176 S.E.2d 802, 805 (1970). However, such evidence

is admissible if it tends to prove any element of the offense

charged, even though it also tends to show that the defendant is

guilty of another crime. Woodfin v. Commonwealth, 236 Va. 89,

95, 372 S.E.2d 377, 380-81 (1988), cert. denied, 490 U.S. 1009

(1989). Evidence of this nature will be permitted only when its

probative value outweighs the incidental prejudice to the

defendant. Id.

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 Evidence of other crimes or bad acts may be admitted to

prove the perpetrator's identity. Spencer v. Commonwealth, 240

Va. 78, 89, 393 S.E.2d 609, 617, cert. denied, 498 U.S. 908

(1990). The trial court is vested with discretion in deciding

whether the evidence of prior bad acts has probative value that

outweighs the prejudice to the accused. Id. at 90, 393 S.E.2d at

617.

Here, the identification cards and the diploma were relevant

evidence tending to prove the identity of the perpetrator. This

evidence linked Goins to Littlejohn and her apartment, where the

Glock manual and the unfired .45 caliber cartridge were found.

The potential prejudicial effect of this evidence was diminished

by the fact that the Commonwealth did not link the identification

cards and the diploma with the commission of another crime.

Thus, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its

discretion in admitting this evidence.
Goins next argues that the trial court erred in allowing

Detective Woody to testify that he found gun publications in

Littlejohn's apartment. At trial, Goins' counsel based his

objection on the fact that "[t]he police evidently did not seize

any of those things . . . and it puts us at a terrible

disadvantage in that we don't have the ability to cross-examine

in reference to that." On appeal, however, Goins raises a

different argument, namely, that this testimony was irrelevant

and highly prejudicial.

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 We will not consider this new argument because it was not

presented to the trial court. Rule 5:25. Likewise, we do not

consider the objection Goins raised at trial because he has

abandoned it on appeal.

Goins also argues that the trial judge erred in allowing

Kenya Jones to be presented to the jury. Goins' counsel objected

on the basis that "I don't know what purpose that serves." The

trial court overruled the objection, stating that the

presentation of Kenya was relevant evidence tending to identify

her as the child who was shot. On appeal, Goins renews his

argument that this evidence was irrelevant, but he also raises a

new argument that the prejudicial effect of this evidence

outweighed any probative value it might have had.
We will consider only the issue whether the evidence was

relevant, because Goins did not raise in the trial court the

issue of its prejudicial impact. Rule 5:25. We conclude that

the presentation of Kenya to the jury was relevant to the issue

whether Kenya was wounded by Goins, as well as to the nature and

the location of her injury.

Goins next contends that the trial court erred in sustaining

the Commonwealth's objection to the following question he

attempted to ask the Commonwealth's firearms expert, Ann Jones:
If another expert were to testify in this matter that
the results would be more conclusive if you had a
weapon from the scene with which to fire test rounds in
order to make a comparison, [would you agree that]
. . . the results would be more conclusive?

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Goins' counsel asked this question after Jones testified that her

inability to test fire the murder weapon did not affect the

weight of her conclusions concerning the cartridge casings she

examined.

The Commonwealth objected to the question on the basis that

the "defense could put on an expert if they wanted to prove their

theory." In response, Goins' counsel asserted that "another

expert who has already testified in this court . . . took a

different approach." The trial court sustained the

Commonwealth's objection, stating that the expert witnesses had

not expressed any such differences in opinion.
Goins argues that the trial court's ruling resulted in the

denial of his right to cross-examine Jones "fully and fairly."

We disagree, because the record shows that Jones and the other

firearms expert, Pickelman, did not give contradictory testimony.

Jones and Pickelman examined different categories of items.

Jones examined the markings on the cartridge casings found at

the crime scene as well as the markings on the unfired cartridge

found in Littlejohn's apartment. Based on this examination, she

was able to conclude that all the cartridge casings had been

ejected from the same .45 caliber Glock pistol.

Jones testified on cross-examination that her "results are

very conclusive." She also stated that her results would not be

different if she had fired test rounds from the actual weapon

used at the crime scene.

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 Pickelman did not state that test firing the actual murder

weapon could have affected Jones' results. As Pickelman

indicated in his testimony, Jones only performed tests on the

unfired cartridge and the cartridge casings, which originally

house the jacketed bullets in the weapon before they are fired.

Pickelman's testimony did not evaluate these tests, but only

dealt with his examination of the barrel markings found on the

fired bullets, bullet jackets, and jacket fragments. Thus, when

Pickelman agreed that, if he had been able to fire test rounds

from the actual murder weapon, he might have been able to

determine conclusively whether the various spent bullets and

bullet jacket fragments came from the same weapon, his testimony

was unrelated to the materials and methods involved in the tests

that Jones performed.
Goins next argues that the trial court erred in allowing the

Commonwealth's attorney to ask Lamont Williams whether he had

told his probation officer that he had a prior business

relationship with Goins. Goins contends that, since the

Commonwealth's attorney earlier had attempted to ask Williams

whether he had sold drugs for Goins, the later question raised an

inference of unrelated criminal activity that did nothing more

than impugn Williams' character and suggest that Goins was

involved in selling drugs. We disagree.

The bias of a witness, based on a previous relationship with

a party to the case, is always a relevant subject of cross-

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examination. Norfolk & Western Railway Co. v. Sonney, 236 Va.

482, 488, 374 S.E.2d 71, 74 (1988); see Brown v. Commonwealth,

246 Va. 460, 464, 437 S.E.2d 563, 564-65 (1993). The issue

whether a particular question may be asked about a witness' bias

is a matter submitted to the trial court's discretion. Shanklin

v. Commonwealth, 222 Va. 862, 864, 284 S.E.2d 611, 612 (1981).

Here, the question allowed by the trial court was not

improper, and Williams denied that he had told his probation

officer he had a previous business relationship with Goins.

Further, the objections to the earlier questions were properly

sustained by the trial court. Therefore, we conclude that the

trial court did not abuse its discretion in allowing the question

at issue.
Goins next contends that the trial court erred in refusing

his request to give the jury a cautionary instruction regarding

the videotape of computer-generated graphics that the

Commonwealth used during its closing argument in the guilt phase

of the trial. Goins asked the trial court to instruct the jury

that, when a presentation is made "in such a high-tech fashion,"

it is afforded "no more credibility." The trial court denied

Goins' request and indicated that Goins' counsel was free to make

this argument to the jury.

The decision whether to give a cautionary instruction is a

matter lying within the trial court's discretion and will not be

disturbed on appeal unless the record shows an abuse of

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discretion. See Johnson v. Commonwealth, 2 Va. App. 598, 605,

347 S.E.2d 163, 167 (1986). Since Goins concedes that he did not

object to the edited version of the tape that was shown to the

jury, the trial court was not required to caution the jury

concerning its form or its content. Thus, the trial court did

not abuse its discretion in denying the requested instruction.

Goins next argues that the evidence is insufficient to

support his convictions. Goins notes that Tamika did not see him

shoot the murder victims, that Scott did not testify, that

Scott's clothing was not tested for gunpowder residue, that the

shootings of Tamika and Kenya were "radically different in

character from the other shootings," and that no fingerprints

were found on the bullet fragments recovered from the crime

scene.
Goins also observes that drugs were found "on the person of

one of the victims and in the system of another victim," and that

no murder weapon was found. Finally, he contends that Parrish

Davis' testimony was inherently incredible as a matter of law,

and that the unfired cartridge found in the second search of

Littlejohn's apartment may have been "planted" there after the

first search conducted by the police.

The standard for reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence

on appeal is well established. We must examine the evidence in

the light most favorable to the Commonwealth, the prevailing

party at trial, and we will not disturb the trial court's

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judgment unless it is plainly wrong or without evidence to

support it. Beavers, 245 Va. at 281-82, 427 S.E.2d at 421; Code

§ 8.01-680.

In the present case, the evidence established that Goins

told Davis that he wanted to kill Tamika and her family after she

had told her parents that she was pregnant by Goins. Further, on

the morning of the murders, Goins became angry when asked to look

at an ultrasound photograph of the fetus.
Tamika saw Goins in the apartment that morning before she

went to her bedroom, and she heard him speaking in the kitchen

before the gunfire began. After hearing the first gunshots,

screaming, and the sound of her brother crying, Tamika heard more

gunshots, the sound of a single set of footsteps in the hall, and

then an additional series of gunshots. Goins appeared at

Tamika's bedroom door and Tamika saw him shoot her as she

attempted to shield her sister, Kenya, from the shots.

After the murders, Goins asked Davis to drive him away from

Richmond in the trunk of a car. Goins and Littlejohn ultimately

fled to New York and, when Goins was arrested, his appearance was

altered.

The evidence also established that all the fired cartridges,

bullets, and bullet jacket fragments retrieved from the crime

scene were fired from the same .45 caliber automatic pistol. The

cartridge casings were identified conclusively as having been

fired from the same .45 caliber automatic Glock pistol.

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 In the apartment where Goins lived with Littlejohn, the

police found a Glock instruction manual, as well as an unfired

cartridge case. Scientific analysis performed on the unfired

cartridge case showed conclusively that the case had been ejected

from the same .45 caliber Glock pistol used to fire the spent

cartridges.

Although Tamika and Kenya were the only victims who were not

shot in the head, this fact fails to support Goins' argument that

another person must have shot the victims who died. An

hypothesis of innocence must arise from the evidence rather than

from the imagination of defense counsel. Spencer v.

Commonwealth, 238 Va. 275, 283-84, 384 S.E.2d 775, 779 (1989),

cert. denied, 493 U.S. 1036 (1990). Moreover, there is no

evidence indicating that anyone other than Goins shot the murder

victims. Thus, we conclude that the jury's verdict is fully

supported by the evidence.

VI. Penalty Phase Issues

Goins also argues that the trial court erred in allowing the

Commonwealth to introduce evidence of "future dangerousness."

Goins asserts that, since he had not been convicted of any crimes

when he was tried for the present offenses, the Commonwealth

could not seek the death penalty based on this predicate. We

disagree.

We specifically rejected this argument in Murphy v.
Commonwealth, 246 Va. 136, 144, 431 S.E.2d 48, 53, cert. denied,

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510 U.S. ___, 114 S.Ct. 336 (1993), in which the defendant argued

that the absence of a felony record or any history of violence

precluded a finding of "future dangerousness." Our holding was

based on the language of Code § 19.2-264.4(C), which states in

relevant part:
The penalty of death shall not be imposed unless
the Commonwealth shall prove beyond a reasonable doubt
that there is a probability based upon evidence of the
prior history of the defendant or of the circumstances
surrounding the commission of the offense of which he
is accused that he would commit criminal acts of
violence that would constitute a continuing serious
threat to society. [Emphasis added.]

This language plainly states in the disjunctive the

evidentiary standard for imposition of the death penalty based on

"future dangerousness." Thus, it is not necessary that a

defendant have a prior criminal record before the Commonwealth

presents evidence of "future dangerousness" to the trier of fact.

Goins next contends that the evidence was insufficient to

support the jury's findings of "vileness" and "future

dangerousness." However, he offers no rationale in support of

this argument.

We disagree with Goins' conclusory assertion. 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." Code

§ 19.2-264.2. Proof of any one of these three components will

support a finding of vileness. Id.; Mueller v. Commonwealth, 244

Va. 386, 411, 422 S.E.2d 380, 395 (1992), cert. denied, 507 U.S.

- 35 -
1043 (1993). We hold that the evidence sufficiently established

Goins' aggravated battery of Robert Jones, as well as Goins'

depravity of mind.

First, the record establishes that Goins perpetrated an

aggravated battery on Robert Jones within the meaning of Code

§ 19.2-264.2. This Court has 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. at

478, 248 S.E.2d at 149. The evidence established that Goins shot

Robert, a three-year-old boy, twice in the head. Both these

gunshot wounds were lethal.

The record also contains sufficient evidence to establish

Goins' depravity of mind. Robert Jones was a defenseless,

innocent child. Nevertheless, Goins decided to kill him,

conducting an execution-style slaying, merely because Robert was

related to Tamika.

The record also contains sufficient evidence to support the

jury's finding of "future dangerousness." The circumstances

surrounding the commission of the capital murder of Robert Jones

were sufficient to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that Goins

would commit future criminal acts of violence that would

constitute a continuing threat to society. See Code

§ 19.2-264.4(C). Goins planned and executed the murders of five

innocent persons, three of whom were children. Four of the five

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murder victims received multiple gunshot wounds. In addition,

Goins maliciously wounded two other victims. These facts

provided sufficient evidence from which the jury could conclude

that Goins placed no value on human life and would kill others

whenever it suited him to do so.

VII. Sentence Review

Code § 17-110.1(C) requires us to review the imposition of

the death sentence on Goins to determine whether (1) it was

imposed under the influence of passion, prejudice, or any other

arbitrary factor; or (2) it is excessive or disproportionate to

the penalty imposed in similar cases, considering both the crime

and the defendant.
In support of his contention that the death sentence was

imposed under the influence of passion, prejudice, or other

arbitrary factor, Goins incorporates by reference all his

previous assignments of error. However, since we have found no

error in the trial court's rulings on those matters, we reject

this argument. See Roach v. Commonwealth, 251 Va. 324, ___, ___

S.E.2d ___, ___ (1996); Pope v. Commonwealth, 234 Va. 114, 127,

360 S.E.2d 352, 360 (1987), cert. denied, 485 U.S. 1015 (1988);

Wise v. Commonwealth, 230 Va. 322, 335, 337 S.E.2d 715, 723

(1985), cert. denied, 475 U.S. 1112 (1986). Additionally, our

independent review of the trial record fails to disclose that the

sentence of death was imposed under the influence of any of these

statutory factors.

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 In conducting our proportionality review, we must determine

"whether other sentencing bodies in this jurisdiction generally

impose the supreme penalty for comparable or similar crimes,

considering both the crime and the defendant." Jenkins v.

Commonwealth, 244 Va. 445, 461, 423 S.E.2d 360, 371 (1992), cert.

denied, 507 U.S. 1036 (1993); see also Code § 17-110.1(C)(2). We

have examined the records of all capital murder cases reviewed by

this Court, under Code § 17-110.1(E), including those cases in

which a life sentence was imposed. We have given particular

attention to those cases in which the death penalty was based on

both the "future dangerousness" and the "vileness" predicates.
Based on this review, we conclude that Goins' death sentence

is not excessive or disproportionate to penalties generally

imposed by other sentencing bodies in the Commonwealth for

comparable crimes. Such sentencing bodies generally impose the

death sentence for a capital murder in which the defendant is

also convicted of murdering another person or persons. See,
e.g., Burket v. Commonwealth, 248 Va. 596, 450 S.E.2d 124 (1994),

cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 115 S.Ct. 1433 (1995); Stewart v.

Commonwealth, 245 Va. 222, 427 S.E.2d 394, cert. denied, 510 U.S.

___, 114 S.Ct. 143 (1993); Jenkins v. Commonwealth, 244 Va. 445,

423 S.E.2d 360; Davidson v. Commonwealth, 244 Va. 129, 419 S.E.2d

656, cert. denied, 506 U.S. 959 (1992); Thomas v. Commonwealth,

244 Va. 1, 419 S.E.2d 606, cert. denied, 506 U.S. 958 (1992);
Buchanan v. Commonwealth, 238 Va. 389, 384 S.E.2d 757.

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 VIII. Conclusion

We find no reversible error in the judgments of the trial

court. Having reviewed Goins' death sentence pursuant to Code

§ 17-110.1, we decline to commute the sentence of death.

Accordingly, we will affirm the trial court's judgments.

Record No. 951869 - Affirmed.
Record No. 951870 - Affirmed.

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