¶1with whom JUSTICE HASSELL joins, dissenting.
¶2I am unable to agree with the majority for the following reasons. I do not think that the defendant “was afforded the opportunity of cross-examination when the witness testified at the preliminary hearing,” as held by the majority. In my opinion, simply because “the court did not limit the defendant’s questioning of the witness nor did the Commonwealth object to any question,” does not mean that the defendant either had or exercised the right of cross-examination at the preliminary hearing.
¶3*5Nor do I agree that “the defendant tested the witness’s testimony to the full extent that he chose to do and he had more than a mere opportunity to conduct the equivalent of cross-examination,” as the majority concludes. The record indicates that the defendant asked a limited number of innocuous leading questions of the witness during his direct examination regarding the witness’s recollection of what he had observed during the encounter in the “bullpen” and his failure to promptly report the alleged robbery. Moreover, the record does not indicate that the defendant sought to (1) establish ulterior personal reasons of the witness for unfairly casting blame on the defendant or challenging the witness’s veracity as in Ohio v. Roberts, 448 U.S. 56, 71 (1980), (2) impeach the witness in the preliminary hearing by prior inconsistent statements, a tool used in cross-examination, as noted in California v. Green, 399 U.S. 149, 168 (1970), or (3) establish a bias in favor of the Commonwealth in the form of a plea agreement or promise of leniency regarding the pending charges against the absent witness, which probably would be used as an important part of a cross-examination which I think should have been afforded the defendant in the circuit court.
¶4Further, I would reject the Commonwealth’s claim that the defendant had “the opportunity” to cross-examine the absent witness at the preliminary hearing as in the case of Fisher v. Commonwealth, 217 Va. 808, 812, 232 S.E.2d 798, 801 (1977). In Fisher(as well as in Shifflett v. Commonwealth, 218 Va. 25, 235 S.E.2d 316 (1977), cited by the majority), the absent witness had testified as a Commonwealth witness at the preliminary hearing and was thus subject to cross-examination by the defendant.
¶5Here, although the absent witness had been called by the defendant at the preliminary hearing, the Commonwealth suggests that the defendant’s right of cross-examination was “protected” even though “he did not avail himself of it.” The Commonwealth reasons that the defendant’s right of cross-examination arose because the absent witness’s testimony “was clearly adverse to the defendant when he stated that he saw the defendant rob [the victim].”
¶6None of the three cases that the Commonwealth cites supports its contention. In each case, the witness was held to be adverse for reasons other than the fact that he or she gave testimony unfavorable to the defendant. Trout v. Commonwealth, 167 Va. 511, 514-16, 188 S.E. 219, 220-21 (1936) (Commonwealth surprised by its witness’s testimony because of her prior inconsistent statements); Nelson v. Commonwealth, 153 Va. 909, 919, 150 S.E. 407, 410 (1929) (Commonwealth’s witness proved adverse or hostile); Pendleton v. Com*6monwealth, 131 Va. 676, 704, 109 S.E. 201, 211 (1921) (court conducted direct examination of witness because she refused to discuss case with Commonwealth’s Attorney prior to trial).
¶7In my opinion the rule in Virginia is that a witness does not become adverse simply because his or her testimony is adverse or injurious to the calling party’s case, as perhaps in the preliminary hearing in this case. Rather, an adverse witness is usually an opposing party or a nonparty witness who has a financial or other personal interest in the outcome of the case, or a witness who gives surprising and unexpected adverse testimony. Butler v. Parrocha, 186 Va. 426, 432-33, 43 S.E.2d 1, 4-5 (1947); Maxey v. Commonwealth, 26 Va. App. 514, 520, 495 S.E.2d 536, 539 (1998).
¶8For these reasons, I would reverse the judgment of the Court of Appeals and remand the case to that Court with directions to remand the case to the circuit court for a new trial to be conducted in accordance with the principles expressed in this dissent.
¶9Justice Lemons took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.
¶10This order shall be certified to the Court of Appeals of Virginia and to the Circuit Court of the City of Chesapeake and shall be published in the Virginia Reports.
¶11A Copy,
¶12Teste:
¶13[[Image here]]
¶14David B. Beach, Clerk
¶15Costs due the Commonwealth by appellant in the Supreme Court of Virginia:
¶16Attorney’s fee: $725.00 plus costs and expenses