Legal Opinion
Commonwealth v. LaCava
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Decided February 21, 2003PublishedCited by 34 opinions
1Opinion of the CourtCordy, J.
Following a jury trial, Thomas N. LaCava was convicted of the deliberate, premeditated murder of his estranged wife. LaCava was also indicted for violating a protective order during the commission of the murder, but pleaded guilty to that charge before the close of trial. LaCava appeals from his conviction of murder in the first degree and from the denial of his motions for a new trial.
LaCava’s strategy at trial was to challenge the elements of premeditation and malice based on diminished mental capacity. He admitted shooting and killing his wife, but attempted to show that, due to his…
2Cases cited33 opinions
- Estelle v. WilliamsSupreme Court of the United States · 1976
- Commonwealth v. WrightMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1992
- Commonwealth v. TavaresMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1982
- Commonwealth v. SatterfieldMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1977
- Commonwealth v. McHoulMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1967
28 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by34 opinions
- Commonwealth v. VickMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 2009
- Yeboah-Sefah v. FiccoCourt of Appeals for the First Circuit · 2009
- Commonwealth v. LaoMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 2005
- Commonwealth v. ShumanMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 2005
- Commonwealth v. WilliamsMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 2003
29 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.