Articles Posted in Violent Crimes

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The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court today ruled that defendants accused of murder, rape, and sexual offenses against children are entitled to request individual questioning of potential jurors about their potential racial or ethnic prejudices when the alleged victim is a different race.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v. Colon. Continue reading ›

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The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court today ruled that a man who lied to the police about being present at a murder scene and refused to cooperate with the investigation should not have been convicted of being an accessory after the fact.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v. Rivera.  Continue reading ›

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The Massachusetts Appeals Court today ruled that a Massachusetts prosecutor can read into evidence the previous testimony given by a crime victim, where the victim has subsequently died and is obviously not available to testify at the trial.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v. Fontanez.  Continue reading ›

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The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court today reinstated the murder conviction of Aaron Hernandez, ruling that his death while his case was being appealed did not justify vacating the guilty finding.  The decision can be read at Commonwealth v. Hernandez.  Continue reading ›

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The Massachusetts Appeals Court today upheld second-degree murder convictions against two men who assisted a fellow inmate in murdering an elderly inmate at Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v. Connors.  Continue reading ›

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The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court today affirmed a man’s first-degree murder conviction following his trial in which it was proven he shot and killed his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v. Collazo.  Continue reading ›

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The Massachusetts Appeals Court today upheld a defendant’s convictions for drug trafficking and illegal possession of a gun after the police caught him in the midst of a home invasion in his neighbor’s apartment.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v. Woods.  Continue reading ›