Commonwealth v. Zinser

In 1998, Lawrence Zinser was convicted of armed assault with intent to kill, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, and malicious destruction of property (two *808indictments). After his convictions were affirmed on appeal, see Commonwealth v. Zinser, 51 Mass. App. Ct. 1105 (2001), Zinser moved for a new trial pursuant to Mass. R. Crim. P. 30 (b), as appearing in 435 Mass. 1501 (2001), on the ground that his trial counsel had provided ineffective assistance in failing to investigate adequately the possibility that Zinser suffered from a mental illness or impairment at the time of the…