Commonwealth v. Bannister

A minor motor vehicle violation by the defendant led to indictments charging him with possession of burglarious implements, G. L. c. 266, § 49, possession of a sawed-off shotgun, G. L. c. 269, § 10(c), and carrying a shotgun in a motor vehicle, G. L. c. 269, § 10(a). He appeals from his convictions on those indictments and from an order denying his motion for a new trial, arguing: (1) that his trial counsel gave him ineffective assistance in putting forth the defense of a lack of criminal responsibility; (2) that the trial judge erroneously excluded lay testimony on the question of the…