Legal Opinion
Commonwealth v. Williams
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Decided March 21, 2008PublishedCited by 18 opinions
1Opinion of the CourtBotsford, J.
On May 27, 2003, a jury convicted the defendant, Alexander Williams, of murder in the first degree of Randy Jackson by reason of extreme atrocity or cruelty.1 In a statement made to the police, the defendant admitted that he shot the victim several times but claimed that he had acted in self-defense. Represented by new counsel on appeal, the defendant challenges the judge’s instructions on self-defense, arguing that they impermissibly shifted the burden of proof. He further argues that this error was exacerbated by the erroneous admission of certain evidence and by improprieties in the…
2Cases cited27 opinions
- Francis v. FranklinSupreme Court of the United States · 1985
- Commonwealth v. FlebotteMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1994
- Commonwealth v. WrightMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1992
- Commonwealth v. KozecMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1987
- Commonwealth v. PeruzziMassachusetts Appeals Court · 1983
22 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by18 opinions
- Commonwealth v. GlackenMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 2008
- Commonwealth v. AliceaMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 2013
- Commonwealth v. AllenMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 2016
- Commonwealth v. GrassieMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 2017
- Commonwealth v. KingMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 2011
13 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.