Commonwealth v. Kerrigan

This is an appeal by the defendant from a denial of his motion for a new trial, filed pursuant to G. L. c. 278, § 29. On September 23, 1961, the defendant was convicted of murder in the first degree, attempted breaking and entering in the nighttime, possession of burglarious implements, unlawful possession of a revolver and conspiracy. In the case before us, Kerrigan seeks to reverse his 1961 convictions on the ground that his credibility was impeached (see G. L. c. 233, § 21) by means of prior convictions which had been obtained in violation of his right to counsel under the Sixth Amendment…