Commonwealth v. Shondell Q. Rateree

Summary

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court vacated the defendant's convictions for misleading a police officer, assault with intent to maim, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, and one assault and battery count, while affirming the remaining convictions and remanding for resentencing. The court held that the trial judge did not abuse discretion in excluding Adjutant evidence for both self‑defense and defense of another, that the misleading‑officer conviction lacked proof of specific intent, and that lesser‑included offense convictions were duplicative because the jury received no instruction on separate acts.