VA · jury_instructions
Va. Model Jury Instr. Crim. No. 18.700
Use or Display of Firearm in Committing or Attempting to Commit Murder, Rape, Robbery, Carjacking, Burglary, Malicious Wounding, Abduction, Forcible Sodomy, or Animate/ Inanimate Object Sexual Penetration
The defendant is charged with the crime of [displaying in a threatening manner; using; attempting
to use] (name of firearm listed in Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-53.1) while committing or attempting to
commit (name of crime listed in Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-53.1). The Commonwealth must prove beyond
a reasonable doubt each of the following elements of that crime:
(1) That the defendant [displayed in a threatening manner; used; attempted to use] (name of firearm
listed in Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-53.1); and
(2) That the [display; use; attempted use] occurred while the defendant was committing or
attempting to commit (name of crime listed in Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-53.1).
If you find from the evidence that the Commonwealth has proved beyond a reasonable doubt
each of the above elements of the crime as charged, then you shall find the defendant guilty [but
you shall not fix the punishment until your verdict has been returned and further evidence has been heard
by you].
If you find that the Commonwealth has failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt either or
both of the elements of the crime, then you shall find the defendant not guilty.
History
Virginia Model Jury Instructions – Criminal, Release 26, October 2025. The unannotated set, posted by the Supreme Court of Virginia at vacourts.gov; the book states that it is made available with the permission of the publisher, Matthew Bender & Company, Inc.
Provenance
- Source
- vacourts.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-11
- Edition
- crim-2025-10-01
- Content hash
e6205ce0f9c6e781a81bdc0b8af4a5cf40b167c5590a887de8876a9799709d78
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