Commonwealth v. James

A jury in the Superior Court convicted the defendant of trafficking in cocaine in excess of one hundred grams, G. L. c. 94C, § 32E (b) (3). The defendant appealed. The Appeals Court reversed the conviction on the ground that the judge improperly denied the defendant’s motion for a required finding of not guilty. Commonwealth v. James, 54 Mass. App. Ct. 726 (2002). For reasons set forth in its opinion, the Appeals Court held that “the evidence of possession was insufficient as matter of law.” Id. at 731. Given its holding that there was insufficient evidence that the defendant was a possessor…