Commonwealth v. Fritz (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-131-15)
Murder conviction affirmed where witness testified he saw defendant pointing gun at victim after hearing shots and defendant later admitted killing.
SJC Opinions
Tirado v. Board of Appeal on Motor Vehicle Liability Policies and Bonds (and two companion cases) (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-130-15)
Admission to sufficient facts and continuance without finding constitute a conviction under commercial driver licensing statute, warranting license suspension.
Commonwealth v. Lessieur (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-129-15)
Murder conviction upheld where primary evidence was cooperating participant's trial testimony, corroborated by witness observations and prior consistent statements properly admitted to rebut recent contrivance claims.
Commonwealth v. Brewer (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-128-15)
Defendant convicted of murder denied right to compel immunity for defense witnesses; prosecutor's credibility argument proper.
Commonwealth v. Melo (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-127-15)
Defendant convicted of murder under felony-murder rule. Court held involuntary transport to police station constituted unlawful arrest but found no miscarriage of justice. Affirmed conviction.
Commonwealth v. Traylor (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-126-15)
Father convicted on seven indictments for injuries to infant son. Court held multiple convictions require separate criminal acts or multiple victims, not just multiple injuries.
Commonwealth v. Carney (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-125-15)
Murder conviction affirmed where autopsy photo, firearm evidence, and prosecutor's improper emotional appeal did not deny fair trial.
Rodriguez v. City of Somerville (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-124-15)
Letter to mayor requesting incident reports constituted inadequate presentment under Tort Claims Act; appeared to be public records request rather than actual claim presentation.
Commonwealth v. Scesny (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-120-15)
Murder conviction affirmed; rape conviction reversed. DNA evidence sufficient for murder but insufficient to prove lack of consent for rape charge.
Wong v. Luu, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-121-15)
Attorney sanctioned $239,928 for solicitation letter derailing settlement negotiations; Supreme Judicial Court reversed, holding inherent power to assess attorney fees limited to conduct threatening fair administration of justice.