Commonwealth v. Robertson

The defendant was tried under the provisions of G. L. c. 278, §§ 33A-33G, on six indictments, two of which charged him with murder in the first degree, two with rape, and two with robbery. The jury found him guilty of murder in the first degree and robbery and he was sentenced to death on the indictments charging murder. He was acquitted of rape. A motion to set aside the verdicts or grant a new trial, which among other grounds cited “newly discovered evidence,” was denied after hearing. The defendant again filed motions for a new trial and leave to inspect certain grand jury minutes. These…