Commonwealth v. Combs

**55 In September, 2011, a Hampden County grand jury returned four indictments charging the defendant, Curtis Combs, with murder in the first degree, G. L. c. 265, § 1 ; kidnapping, G. L. c. 265, § 26 ; armed robbery, G. L. c. 265, § 17 ; and assault by means of a dangerous weapon, G. L. c. 265, § 15A ( b ). The Commonwealth alleged that the defendant either was the principal or acted as part of a joint venture with Demery "Manny" Williams 2 to rob and murder William Jones. The defendant and Manny were tried separately, and we affirmed Manny's convictions of murder in the first degree, armed…