Commonwealth v. King

A Superior Court jury found the defendant guilty of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon and of assault with intent to kill. The latter conviction was returned on an indictment charging assault with intent to murder. Represented by new counsel on appeal, the defendant argues (1) that the judge’s instructions allowed the jury to convict him of assault with intent to kill without their finding *89a specific intent to kill; and (2) that the instructions on self-defense were inadequate.

The evidence brought out the following. On December 22, 1982, the defendant and the victim found…