Commonwealth v. Riley

The defendant, William R. Riley, was convicted of murder in the second degree. On appeal, he claims that the trial judge erred in (1) denying his motion for a required finding of not guilty as to the charge of murder in the second degree on the ground that there was insufficient evidence of malice; and (2) instructing the jury on reasonable doubt. The defendant also argues that third prong malice should be abolished as a basis for *267murder in the second degree. We granted the defendant’s application for direct appellate review. Because the verdict rested on sufficient evidence and the jury…