Commonwealth v. Johnson

Liacos, CJ.

The defendant was convicted after a trial in the Superior Court of two indictments charging him with rape by force of a child under the age of sixteen years, in violation of G. L. c. 265, § 22A (1992 ed.). On appeal, the defendant asserts several grounds of error. We conclude that the defendant’s right, guaranteed by art. 12 of the Declaration of Rights of the Massachusetts Constitution, to confront the witnesses appearing against him at trial, was violated. We reverse on that ground, and we discuss only that claim in detail. We also comment briefly on three other issues raised by…