Commonwealth v. Auguste

On June 12, 1990, a jury convicted the defendant, Samuel J. Auguste, of murder in the first degree and of two separate armed robberies. The defendant appeals his convictions, arguing that at the empanelment the trial judge failed to question adequately jurors who had expressed concerns about their impartiality. We agree that the judge failed in his duty to question the venire adequately. We reverse. We discuss briefly issues likely to arise at a retrial.

There was ample evidence introduced at trial to justify the defendant’s convictions. The defendant does not argue otherwise. On November 26,…