Commonwealth v. Bell

After a District Court jury trial, the defendant was convicted of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon on a family member (the defendant's brother). On appeal the defendant argues: (1) the judge's supplemental jury instruction on self-defense was erroneous, (2) the admission in evidence of prior convictions of the defendant was error, and (3) the evidence was insufficient to support the conviction. We affirm.

Background. The charges arose from events that occurred between the defendant and the victim on July 3, 2014, in the Mattapan section of Boston. Based on the evidence, the…