PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — A Virginia appeals court has affirmed the voluntary manslaughter conviction of former Portsmouth police officer Stephen Rankin.
Portsmouth Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Morales announced Tuesday Virginia Court of Appeals unanimously affirmed the ruling. Rankin’s attorneys had previously argued to get the conviction overturned.
A jury found Rankin guilty in August 2016. The former police officer was initially charged with with first-degree murder in the shooting death of William Chapman II.
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