Commonwealth v. Starkweather

A jury convicted the defendant of rape and assault and battery. On appeal, the defendant assigns as error (1) the denial of his motion to suppress items seized in a search of the defendant’s Jeep automobile and truck; (2) the admission of certain testimony that, it is contended, violated the first complaint doctrine; and (3) aspects of the judge’s instructions, including instructions on first complaint and the elements of the offense of rape. We affirm.

1. Background. We summarize the trial evidence, reserving further details that relate exclusively to the suppression motion. In the summer of…