Commonwealth v. Ward

What had been tried to the jury was a case of all too routine urban mugging, one made more poignant by the flight of two passersby who turned a deaf ear to the victim’s calls for help. The precise charges against the defendant, of which he was convicted, were armed robbery and assault and battery by means of dangerous weapons, a handgun and a sharp instrument.

Winding into his argument, the prosecutor had this to say:

“If you think I was unfair, vote not guilty. Because, folks, what this case is about, and it ain’t about a backpack, and it ain’t about fifteen bucks or a calculator or notes.…