Commonwealth v. Holt

After a Superior Court jury trial, the defendant was convicted of one count of assault on a child with intent to rape, in violation of G. L. c. 265, § 24B. On appeal, he argues that various improprieties by the prosecutor, exacerbated by the trial judge’s attempt at a curative instruction, require reversal of his conviction. We agree.

Background. When he was twelve years old, John Baker (a pseudonym) met the defendant at a basketball camp where the defendant was a coach. In the ensuing years, John became a *717frequent visitor and overnight guest at the defendant’s home. John testified that before…