Commonwealth v. Quinones

On May 7, 1985, in the course of trial, the defendant pleaded guilty to murder in the second degree, and the trial judge sentenced him to a term of life imprisonment. He also pleaded guilty to assault with intent to murder and received a concurrent sentence of from eight to ten years. On February 25, 1986, the defendant filed a request for a transcript. On March 3, 1986, the clerk’s office sent a copy of that request to the court stenographer. On April 11, 1986, the stenographer’s motor vehicle was stolen. That vehicle contained her stenographic notes of the proceeding at which the guilty…