Commonwealth v. Haywood

The defendant appeals after he was convicted of breaking and entering in the daytime with the intent to commit a felony, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, and malicious destruction of property in an amount equal to or less than $250. He raises two issues on appeal: first, that a letter he wrote from jail to the victim should not have been admitted; second, that the judge erred in refusing to give the defendant's requested missing witness instruction. We affirm.

We summarize the facts as the jury reasonably could have found them. The defendant had a history of violence towards…