VA · jury_instructions
Va. Model Jury Instr. Crim. No. 7.250
Burning Structure or Building Other Than Dwelling—Unoccupied
The defendant is charged with the crime of arson. The Commonwealth must prove beyond a
reasonable doubt each of the following elements of that crime:
(1) That the defendant [burned; by use of an explosive device or substance destroyed in whole or in
part; caused to be burned or destroyed; aided, counseled or procured the burning or destruction of; set
fire to anything the burning of which caused the burning of; caused to be set on fire anything, the burning
of which caused the burning of; aided, counseled or procured the setting fire to anything the burning of
which caused the burning of] [(describe house, building, or structure referred to in Va. Code Ann. §
18.2-79)]; and
(2) That the defendant acted with malice.
If you find from the evidence that the Commonwealth has proved beyond a reasonable doubt
each of the above elements of the crime, 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
3c80e78b81038bf06dd7052dec86842b4adfe8b01cfb139c3b0c3b34278b4fb5
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