Sliech-Brodeur v. Commonwealth

The petitioner, indicted for murder, notified the Commonwealth of her intention to pursue a defense of lack of criminal responsibility because of mental disease or defect, based on the opinion of an expert witness. See Mass. R. Crim. P. 14 (b) (2) (A), as appearing in 442 Mass. 1518 (2004). The Commonwealth moved for discovery of assorted materials regarding the expert and his evaluations of the petitioner, and moved for an independent psychiatric examination of the petitioner. See Mass. R. Crim. P. 14 (b) (2) (B), as appearing in 442 Mass. 1518 (2004). The petitioner opposed the…