PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WVEC) -- The Virginia Court of Appeals unanimously affirmed the voluntary manslaughter conviction of former Portsmouth police officer Stephen Rankin.
Rankin was charged in the killing William Chapman in April 2015.
Rankin appealed the conviction, hoping for a new trial.
The Portsmouth Commonwealth's Attorney's Office opposed the appeal, stating that it should stand and that there were no legal errors made at trial. The Virginia Office of the Attorney General took the same position as the commonwealth's attorney's office in its own brief.
In a news release Tuesday, Portsmouth Commonwealth's Attorney Stephanie Morales said, "“Today the Court of Appeals agreed that the conviction of Stephen Rankin was proper in all respects, and we are thankful for this ruling. Our team of attorneys sought to uphold the law and seek justice, and we are glad to learn that the Court of Appeals agrees that we did so appropriately. This ruling is the culmination of many months of litigation, and it encourages us to continue to seek justice for all victims of violent crime, but especially those whose ability to speak for themselves has been taken away too soon.”
Court of Appeals Stephen Rankin Opinion by 13News Now on Scribd
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