Legal Opinion
Commonwealth v. Roberts
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Decided May 15, 1979PublishedCited by 118 opinions
1Opinion of the CourtHennessey, C.J.
The defendant was convicted by a Superior Court jury of unarmed robbery and murder in the first degree. The trial judge imposed the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment for the murder conviction and, with the defendant’s consent, placed the robbery conviction on file.
The defendant appeals, arguing error in (1) the prosecutor’s opening and closing statements, (2) the prosecutor’s direct examination of a Commonwealth witness and cross-examination of the defendant, (3) the judge’s exclusion of certain evidence during trial, and (4) the judge’s charge to the jury on joint enterprise. The…
2Cases cited32 opinions
- Bruton v. United StatesSupreme Court of the United States · 1968
- Commonwealth v. BorodineMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1976
- Commonwealth v. HofferMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1978
- Commonwealth v. GrazianoMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1975
- Commonwealth v. EarltopMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1977
27 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by118 opinions
- Commonwealth v. KozecMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1987
- Commonwealth v. TavaresMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1982
- Commonwealth v. BradshawMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1982
- Commonwealth v. CunneenMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1983
- Commonwealth v. GarciaMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1980
113 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.