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§ 18.2-30 Murder and manslaughter declared felonies

Any person who commits aggravated murder, murder of the first degree, murder of the second degree, voluntary manslaughter, or involuntary manslaughter, is guilty of a felony.

History

This law was first created in 1975. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 14 and 15 of that year’s edition of “Acts of Assembly,” the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1975 “Acts” aren’t available online.

1975, cc. 14, 15; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 344, 345.

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What This Is

This is a law from the Code of Virginia. This is the actual, unchanged text of one of the many laws that govern Virginia.

Trust, But Verify

If you’re reading this for anything important, you should double-check its accuracy—read § 18.2-30 on the official Code of Virginia website.

Keyboard Guide

Court Decisions

Paiz v. Commonwealth (COA, 08/25/09)
. . . 682 S.E.2d 71 (2009) . . .
Tross v. Commonwealth (COA, 12/12/95)
. . . 464 S.E.2d 523 (1995) . . .
Washington v. Com. (SCV, 09/15/06)
. . . 634 S.E.2d 310 (2006) . . .
Dalton v. Commonwealth (COA, 03/16/99)
. . . *329LEMONS, Judge, with whom Judges WILLIS, BRAY, OVERTON and BUMGARDNER, join, dissenting on Part I . . .
Winston v. Com. (SCV, 11/05/04)
. . . 604 S.E.2d 21 (2004) . . .
M.G. v. Albemarle County Department of Social Services (COA, 07/22/03)
. . . 583 S.E.2d 761 (2003) . . .
Armes v. Commonwealth (COA, 10/07/86)
. . . 3 Va.App. 189 (1986) . . .
Brown v. Commonwealth (SCV, 06/18/82)
. . . COCHRAN, J., . . .
Durkin v. Taylor (District Court, E.D. Virginia, 11/10/77)
. . . 444 F.Supp. 879 (1977) . . .
Jenkins v. Commonwealth (SCV, 06/08/79)
. . . 255 S.E.2d 504 (1979) . . .

Court opinions are provided by CourtListener, which is developed by the Free Law Project.

Amendment Attempts

HB85: Death penalty; abolishes penalty, including those persons currently under a death sentence. (failed)
SB449: Death penalty; abolishes penalty, including those persons currently under a death sentence. (failed)
HB1779: Death penalty; abolition of current penalty. (failed)
HB2263: Death penalty; abolition of current penalty.
HB2263: Death penalty; abolition of current penalty.
SB449: Death penalty; abolishes penalty, including those persons currently under a death sentence.
SB1165: Death penalty; abolition of current penalty.
SB1165: Death penalty; abolition of current penalty.
SB1165: Death penalty; abolition of current penalty.
HB661: Capital murder; death penalty for willful, deliberate, etc., killing of a law-enforcement officer. (failed)
SB379: Capital murder; death penalty for willful, deliberate, etc., killing of a law-enforcement officer. (failed)
HB394: Capital murder; authorizes death penalty. (failed)
HB1773: Enhanced earned sentence credits; exemptions; firearm-related offense; felony conviction while a prisoner. (failed)
HB1991: Domestic and Sexual Assault Conviction Database; established. (failed)
HB2063: School employees; reports of certain arrests and convictions. (passed)
HB2192: Enhanced earned sentence credits; repeals four-level classification system. (failed)
HB2485: Cannabis control; establishes framework for creating retail market, penalties. (failed)
HB2498: Virginia Gaming Commission; established, penalties, report. (failed)
HB2574: Juvenile and domestic relations district court; juvenile intake, school notification. (failed)
HB2576: Geriatric prisoners; conditional release. (failed)
HB2694: Criminal sexual assault against a minor; capital murder, death penalty, etc. (failed)
SB970: Cannabis control; establishes framework for creating retail market, penalties. (failed)
SB1071: Enhanced earned sentence credits; exemptions, felony drug offenses. (failed)
SB1080: Earned sentence credits; inchoate offenses, concurrent and consecutive sentences. (failed)
SB1109: Firearm purchases; permit to purchase a firearm required, penalties. (failed)
SB1287: Virginia Gaming Commission; established, penalties, report. (failed)
SB1331: Juvenile and domestic relations district court; juvenile intake, school notification.
HB244: Robbery; conforms certain provisions of Code to degrees of robbery offenses.
HB308: Va. ABC Authority; permitting of retail tobacco product retailers, etc. (passed)
HB438: Delinquency petition; referral to court service unit. (passed)
HB642: Cannabis control; establishes framework for creation of retail marijuana market, penalties, report. (failed)
HB853: Petition for modification of a sentence; eligibility, procedures, report. (failed)
HB857: Home/electronic incarceration program; court shall assign pregnant/postpartum persons to program. (passed)
HB863: Offenses, certain; elimination of mandatory minimum sentences. (failed)
HB874: Domestic and Sexual Assault Conviction Database; established.
HB1162: State correctional facilities; required education or vocational training. (failed)
HB1326: Geriatric prisoners; conditional release, Parole Board shall promulgate regulations.
HB1359: Firearm; purchase requirements, penalties.
HB1432: Marijuana or marijuana products; underage possession, consequences, procedures.
SB209: Geriatric prisoners; conditional release.
SB542: Cannabis control; establishes framework for creation of retail marijuana market, penalties, report.
SB558: Virginia Gaming Commission established.
SB620: Va. ABC Authority; permitting of retail tobacco product retailers, etc. (passed)
SB634: Petition for modification of a sentence; eligibility, procedures, report. (failed)
SB643: Firearm, certain; possession, transportation, or purchase by certain persons, penalty.
SB671: Cannabis control; retail market; penalties.
SB797: Firearm purchase requirements; penalties.
SB826: Marijuana; creates framework for retail sales.