Commonwealth v. Roderick

The defendant, Peter P. Roderick, was convicted of murder in the first degree, on a theory of felony-murder, and two indictments charging armed assault with intent to rob. He appeals from these convictions. We affirm the judgments of the Superior Court.

I

The defendant and an acquaintance, Archie Readus, knocked *272on the door of a boarding house in Brockton, hoping to obtain drugs. When a woman who was acquainted with Readus let them into the common area of the boarding house, they told her they wished to purchase one “sixteenth” of cocaine. The woman acted as a runner for the victim, who sold…