Commonwealth v. Perkins

The defendant was convicted of deliberately premeditated murder (the only theory of murder submitted to the jury) and aggravated rape. He filed two motions for a new trial. In the first, he claimed that during trial he was under the effects of medication that prevented him from assisting in his defense and prevented him from voluntarily and knowingly waiving his right to testify. He also claimed counsel was ineffective for failing to bring the defendant’s condition to the attention of the trial judge and request appropriate relief. That motion was denied. In the second motion for a new trial…