Commonwealth v. Ward

Following a jury trial, the defendant, Kenneth Ward, was convicted of five counts of rape of a child and six counts of indecent assault and battery on a child.2 On appeal, the defendant claims that the judge improperly denied him several peremptory challenges of prospective jurors, that various statements were introduced in evidence in violation of the first complaint doctrine, and that the prosecutor made impermissible and prejudicial statements in her closing argument. We affirm.

1. Factual background. The offenses arise from the defendant's relationship with two young girls in his girl…