Commonwealth v. Coviello

A jury found the defendant guilty on both counts of an indictment charging rape. The defendant appealed the judgments of conviction. The Appeals Court set them aside, holding that the trial judge had erroneously precluded defense counsel from eliciting evidence of the defendant’s prior convictions during counsel’s direct examination of the defendant. We granted the Common wealth’s application for further appellate review. We affirm the judgments of conviction.

The relevant factual and procedural background of the case is set forth in the Appeals Court’s decision. Essentially, the case for the…