Commonwealth v. Diaz

This appeal presents questions about the impeachment of a defendant in a criminal case through evidence of his prior convictions, and about double jeopardy in the sense of multiple punishments. Finding no error, we affirm the judgments of conviction.

Upon indictments for unlawful distribution of a controlled substance (G. L. c. 94C, § 32, as before 1980 amendment), and for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute it (id.), the drug being heroin in each instance, the defendant was tried by jury and found guilty of both charges.

We recount the evidence. Detective John Ulrich…