Legal Opinion
Commonwealth v. Pierce
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Decided November 21, 1994PublishedCited by 51 opinions
1Opinion of the CourtNolan, J.
A jury convicted the defendant of murder in the first degree by joint venture based on the theories of deliberate premeditation and extreme atrocity or cruelty.1 On appeal the defendant challenges (1) the judge’s failure to instruct the jury on the lesser included offenses of voluntary and involuntary manslaughter; (2) the judge’s instructions regarding the second and third prong of “malice aforethought”; and (3) the judge’s explanation as to the admissibility of a witness’s prior inconsistent statement. The defendant also claims that we should exercise our power under G. L. c. 278, §.33E…
2Cases cited23 opinions
- Commonwealth v. WaldenMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1980
- Commonwealth v. BiancoMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1983
- Commonwealth v. SiresMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1992
- Commonwealth v. BiancoMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1983
- Commonwealth v. LawrenceMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1989
18 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by51 opinions
- Commonwealth v. SannaMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1997
- Commonwealth v. AcevedoMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 2006
- Commonwealth v. VickMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 2009
- Commonwealth v. SimpsonMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 2001
- Commonwealth v. FryarMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1997
46 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.