Case of the Week

Richmond City Circuit Court, Richmond, Virginia

The case looked like a loser.  A young woman was accused of robbery.  If convicted, she faced life in prison. She had a prior record.  The victim knew her and immediately reported her to the police.  Who would believe her when she exclaimed her innocence?  David Boyce, that’s who.  

The story unfolded as follows.  The victim, a young man and former friend of our client, got into an argument with her outside of her house.  There were witnesses present who overheard the argument.  The argument grew heated and our client angrily ordered him off her property.  Reluctantly, he left.  A few minutes later our client, still fuming, got into her automobile intending to drive down to a nearby store for cigarettes.  She did  not make it out of the driveway.  The victim pulled our client out of her car and began beating her.  Several good Samaritans quickly intervened  helping our client away from the scene and taking a few shots at the alleged victim.  An ambulance was called and the victim was transported to the hospital where he was treated for his injuries.  

After being released from the hospital the alleged victim contacted the authorities conjuring up a drastically different story.  He told the police that shortly after chasing him off her property the defendant and two gentlemen began beating him.  While one young men held his arms, our client allegedly robbed him and then hit him over the head with a beer bottle, severely wounding him.  Everyone scattered, leaving the victim bleeding on the ground.  

Initially, our client was arrested for robbery.  Unfortunately, the young men who were present when the victim was attacked could not be found.  It appeared as if it would be our client’s word against that of the victim.  David immediately began investigating the case and filing motions.  Eventually he subpoenaed the hospital records and learned that the victim’s blood alcohol level was over the legal presumptive level for intoxication.  In other words, he was drunk.  Also, the records revealed the victim had cocaine in his blood.  Accordingly, David was able to question the victim’s ability to accurately recall what had transpired.  And, to top it off, David could suggest that the victim was committing a felony by using drugs and shouldn’t be believed.  But was this enough?  Shortly before the trial, the prosecutor decided to turn the heat up by indicting our client for an additional crime….malicious wounding.  The new offense carried a possible prison sentence of twenty years.  And this was in addition to the life sentence she was facing for the robbery.

Knowing the stakes were high, David began scouring the neighborhood for witnesses.  And just two days before the trial, he hit the jackpot.  He located an eyewitness who had seen the two young men attack the victim without the assistance of our client.  Now, David was ready to do battle.  Our client entered pleas of “not guilty” and both the prosecutor and David presented all the evidence, including the gory hospital records depicting the permanent injuries received by the victim.  Also, the Judge was advised by the prosecutor that our client had a prior misdemeanor larceny conviction and couldn’t be believed.  After considering all the evidence, the Judge sided with David and found our client “not guilty” of both charges.  The case was dismissed with shouts of joy from our client and her friends.

There are many people in prison serving lengthy sentences in cases factually similar to this.  Fortunately, in this case the defendant had the good sense to hire the law firm of Boone Beale to represent her.  Our lawyers leave no stone unturned.  We thoroughly investigate and prepare our cases in an effort to ensure that justice prevails.  David Boyce is just another reason Boone Beale enjoys such a good reputation. 

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