Commonwealth v. Taft

After a jury trial, the defendant was convicted of assault and battery ( G. L. c. 265, § 13A [b ] ), as a lesser included of the charged offense of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon ( G. L. c. 265, § 15A [b ] ). He appeals,2 arguing that the judge erred by (1) denying his motion for a required finding of not guilty of assault and battery; (2) excluding cross-examination of the victim regarding evidence of bias; (3) not providing an instruction to the jury on the "castle" law defense; and (4) admitting overly prejudicial evidence of the defendant's arrest and booking…