Commonwealth v. Syed

This is a consolidated appeal by the defendant, Zulfiquar Syed, from his convictions, after a trial by jury, of assault and battery on a family or household member, G. L. c. 265, § 13M (a ), and threatening to commit a crime, G. L. c. 275, § 2, and from an order denying his motion for a new trial.

Background. 1. Trial. The case was set down for trial on April 14, 2015. After the Commonwealth answered ready, a judge other than the trial judge, allowed the defendant's court-appointed attorney to withdraw from the case. Attorney Larry Colby was appointed to represent the defendant. Three months…