Mason v. Commonwealth

LUKOWSKY, Justice.

Mason was convicted of two counts of first-degree assault and two counts of first-degree robbery. The jury fixed the maximum penalty of twenty (20) years’ imprisonment on each count. Mason’s sole defense at trial was insanity. The jury did not buy it. Mason appeals.

The only question presented by this appeal is whether Mason’s right to a fair trial was violated by the trial judge’s inclusion in his instruction to the jury on insanity the statement that every man is presumed sane until the contrary is shown by the evidence. We answer this question in the negative’ and affirm.

Th…