Commonwealth v. Shaw

The defendant appeals from convictions of kidnapping, aggravated rape, simple rape, and assault with a dangerous weapon.1 The only issue on appeal is whether the judge abused his discretion in refusing to allow the defendant to introduce evidence that the victim, who was about seventeen at the time of the perpetration of the crimes, sometimes lived with her boyfriend.

The victim’s testimony on direct examination was to the effect that she was abducted at knifepoint by the defendant, who forced her to get into his automobile, a faded maroon *40Cadillac, and drove her to a secluded area where he…