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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>84884</law_id><section_number>19.2-221</section_number><catch_line>Form of prosecutions generally; murder and manslaughter</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="19.2">Criminal Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="14">Presentments, Indictments and Informations</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2">Form and Requisites</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The <span class="dictionary">prosecutions</span> for <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> against the Commonwealth, unless otherwise provided, shall be by <span class="dictionary">presentment</span>, <span class="dictionary">indictment</span> or information. While any form of <span class="dictionary">presentment</span>, <span class="dictionary">indictment</span> or information which informs the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> of the nature and cause of the accusation against him shall be good the following shall be deemed sufficient for <span class="dictionary">murder</span> and <span class="dictionary">manslaughter</span>:
		Commonwealth of Virginia _______________ county (or city) to-wit: The grand jurors of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in and for the body of the county (or city) of __________, upon their <span class="dictionary">oaths</span> present that A __________ B __________, on the __________ day of __________, 20_____, in the county (or city) of __________ feloniously did kill and <span class="dictionary">murder</span> one C __________ D __________ against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth.
		A <span class="dictionary">grand jury</span> may, in case of <span class="dictionary">homicide</span>, which in their <span class="dictionary">opinion</span> amounts to <span class="dictionary">manslaughter</span> only, and not to <span class="dictionary">murder</span>, find an <span class="dictionary">indictment</span> against the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> for <span class="dictionary">manslaughter</span> and in such case the <span class="dictionary">indictment</span> shall be sufficient if it be in form or effect as follows:
		Commonwealth of Virginia _______________ county (or city) to-wit: The grand jurors of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in and for the body of the county (or city) of _______________, upon their <span class="dictionary">oaths</span> present that A __________ B __________, on the __________ day of __________, 20_____, in the county (or city) of __________ feloniously and unlawfully did kill and slay one C __________ D __________, against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 19.1-166; 1960, c. 366; 1975, c. 495.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
