Commonwealth v. Pickles

The defendant, George Pickles, was found guilty of motor vehicle homicide by a jury of six in the Haverhill District Court. G. L. c. 90, § 24G. He appealed his conviction to the Appeals Court, which summarily affirmed the judgment. 2 17 Mass. App. Ct. 1108 (1983). We granted the defendant’s application for further appellate review. We reverse.

The defendant argues that the judge’s instructions to the jury shifted the burden of proof to the defendant, depriving him of his constitutional right to due process. He also argues that the jury instructions were so confusing that they misled the jury.

Th…