Johnson v. Hall

OPINION

TAURO, District Judge.

Petitioner seeks a writ of habeas corpus, 1 challenging his 1964 conviction in the Massachusetts Superior Court of a number of charges, including murder in the first degree of a Boston policeman. 2 At trial, petitioner’s confession was admitted in evidence. The admission of that confession underlies the instant petition.

I

The confession at issue was obtained from petitioner in the early morning hours following his arrest. Petitioner objected to its admission on the sole ground that the confession was extracted from him after he had been physically mistreated by the…