Commonwealth v. Stephens

The defendant, a black man, was convicted on an indictment charging him with knowingly deriving support and maintenance from the earnings of a prostitute. The victim was a white woman. Prior to trial the defendant, citing G. L. c. 234, § 28,2 and Commonwealth v. Sanders, 383 Mass. 637 (1981), moved that certain questions, including one directed to racial prejudice and another relating to the credibility of police officers, be put to each juror individually outside the presence of other jurors. Accompanying his motion was an affidavit of counsel indicating that “it is anticipated that there…