Commonwealth v. Hill

On January 12, 1996, a jury convicted the defendant, Michael Hill, of murder in the first degree by reason of deliberate premeditation.1 The defendant appealed; appellate proceedings were stayed when a motion for a new trial was *705filed. The case was remanded to the Superior Court, where a judge other than the trial judge2 held an evidentiary hearing on the motion for a new trial.

On June 8, 1999, the judge allowed the motion for the following reasons: (1) the Commonwealth failed to disclose an arrangement to give favorable consideration to Israel Lewis (Lewis), a key witness, and did not…