Legal Opinion
Commonwealth v. O'BRIEN
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Decided April 6, 1979PublishedCited by 72 opinions
1Opinion of the CourtWilkins, J.
On November 13, 1974, the defendant, a member of the bar of the Commonwealth, fatally shot his wife at the office of his attorney, Mr. Ralph Champa, in Somerville. The shooting brought to an abrupt conclusion a heated discussion concerning a separation agreement and a divorce. At trial, the defendant did not deny that he shot his wife, but he asserted that he was not criminally responsible for his act. The twenty-day trial concluded with a jury verdict that the defendant was guilty of murder in the first degree.
The defendant raises a variety of issues on appeal. We shall consider first the…
2Cases cited23 opinions
- Fisher v. United StatesSupreme Court of the United States · 1976
- United States v. United Shoe MacHinery CorporationDistrict Court, D. Massachusetts · 1950
- Commonwealth v. McHoulMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1967
- Commonwealth v. HaasMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1977
- Commonwealth v. WalkerMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1976
18 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by72 opinions
- Commonwealth v. SmithMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1983
- Commonwealth v. ShelleyMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1980
- Judge Rotenberg Educational Center, Inc. v. Commissioner of Department of Mental RetardationMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1997
- Commonwealth v. KaterMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1983
- State v. IwakiriIdaho Supreme Court · 1984
67 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.