Commonwealth v. Pacheco (Lawyers Weekly No. 11-039-15)
Police properly obtained juvenile's initial Miranda waiver with guardian present but violated his rights by monitoring and interrupting a mid-interrogation request to consult with his guardian.
Commonwealth
Renaud v. Commonwealth (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-066-15)
Reversal of conviction based on insufficient evidence of defendant's identity satisfies statutory eligibility requirement for erroneous conviction compensation.
Commonwealth v. Jackson (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-064-15)
Defendant convicted of murder denied duress defense. Court holds duress unavailable to both adults and juveniles; noncitizen juror requires showing of prejudice; public trial right procedurally waived.
Commonwealth v. Perez (Lawyers Weekly No. 11-038-15)
Drug possession conviction affirmed despite insufficient probable cause for no-knock warrant; suppression denied where police acted in good faith.
Commonwealth v. Foster (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-063-15)
Murder conviction affirmed where probable cause affidavit established nexus between crime and defendant's residence through his implausible account of items recovered near scene.
Commonwealth v. Newson (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-061-15)
Murder conviction under joint venture theory upheld where defendant claimed lack of advance knowledge but aided the shooter's escape.
Commonwealth v. Hamilton (Lawyers Weekly No. 11-037-15)
Assault and battery by hypodermic needle conviction affirmed where defendant thrust needle at officer, causing puncture wound requiring hospital treatment.
Commonwealth v. Colondres (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-060-15)
Anticipatory search warrant valid where police establish facts providing equivalent, not strict, compliance with stated triggering conditions and equal support for probable cause.
Commonwealth v. Tran (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-058-15)
Murder conviction affirmed where defendant killed wife with mallet. Miranda warnings in Vietnamese adequate. Mental impairment instruction sufficient. Convictions not duplicative under elements-based test.
Commonwealth v. Jones (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-054-15)
Dissemination statute implicitly required knowledge that recipient was a minor, preventing First Amendment overbreadth chilling protected speech.