Hartfield v. Commonwealth

Charmaine Hartfield, who has been indicted for murder in the second degree, appeals from the denial by a single justice of this court of her petition pursuant to G. L. c. 211, § 3. Hartfield was tried on the indictment before a jury. At the close of the Commonwealth’s case, and again at the close of the evidence, she moved for a required finding of not guilty. These motions were denied. The jury could not reach a unanimous verdict, and a mistrial was declared. Hartfield then moved in the trial court to dismiss the indictment on the ground that retrial would subject her to double jeopardy,…