Commonwealth v. Doucette

The defendant, Thomas Doucette, appealed from his conviction by a jury on two counts of attempted extortion in violation of G. L. c. 265, § 25 (1984 ed.). The Appeals Court affirmed the judgment. Commonwealth v. Doucette, 22 Mass. App. Ct. 659 (1986). The defendant applied successfully for further appellate review in order to have this court consider whether the trial judge abused his discretion by refusing to allow defense counsel to question two prosecution witnesses at voir dire hearings regarding their competence to testify at trial. G. L. c. 233, § 20 (1986 ed.). The defendant argues…