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SJC-12094

COMMONWEALTH  vs.  JAMES RUTHERFORD.

Worcester.     November 10, 2016. – March 16, 2017.

Present:  Gants, C.J., Lenk, Hines, Gaziano, & Lowy, JJ.

Homicide.  Practice, Criminal, Argument by prosecutor, Capital case.  Evidence, Prior misconduct, State of mind.

Indictments found and returned in the Superior Court Department on September 23, 2011.

The cases were tried before Janet Kenton-Walker, J.

Jennifer H. O’Brien for the defendant.

Ellyn H. Lazar-Moore, Assistant District Attorney, for the Commonwealth.

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