Commonwealth v. Cruz

Shortly after noon on Thursday, January 25, 1996, six-year-old Eric Dawood died, the victim of violent physical abuse. Although Eric’s body revealed numerous blunt force injuries, the cause of death was (in the opinion of the medical examiner) peritonitis arising from a ruptured duodenum. The rupture had resulted from a severe blow to Eric’s abdomen — most likely a kick, stomp, or other rapid and forceful blow — inflicted twelve to forty-eight hours before his death.

A grand jury returned a four-count indictment against the defendant, Juan E. Cruz, who was the live-in boyfriend of Eric’s…