Commonwealth v. Ward

On December 9, 1974, a fire broke out in the defendant’s building in Boston. Approximately five years later he was indicted for arson (G. L. c. 266, § 1) and for burning a building with the intent to defraud the insurer (G. L. c. 266, § 10). After a jury trial, he was convicted on both indictments. On appeal the defendant argues that the trial judge erred in denying his motion for required findings of not guilty, in refusing to dismiss the indictments for preindictment delay, and in refusing to strike the opinions of the Commonwealth’s two arson experts concerning the origin and nature of the…