SJC Justices Disagree as to Effect of Prosecutor’s Seemingly Inconsistent Statements at Two Separate Trials

JANUARY 22, 2014

Share|Share

This week, a 4-3 Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) decision highlighted the justices’ conflicting views on the prejudicial effect on a criminal defendant when a prosecutor urges a jury to believe that one person was the principal actor in a murder at one trial, and, failing to convince that jury, urges a different jury to believe that the defendant pulled the trigger in the defendant’s subsequent trial.

In Commonwealth v. Keo, Keo faced a charge of first degree murder in the shooting death of the victim, who was a member of a rival gang, in Lynn in November 2007. The evidence in that case suggested that, on that date, Bonrad Sok had called Keo, and Keo joined Sok and others at a restaurant where the victim and his girlfriend were also present. About five weeks prior to that time, the victim had stabbed Keo.

Posted by Parker Scheer LLP | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Criminal Activity , Criminal Allegations , Firearms Charges , Gangs , Guns , Homicide , Murder , Shootings

This week, a 4-3 Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) decision highlighted the justices’ conflicting views on the prejudicial effect on a criminal defendant when a prosecutor urges a jury to believe that one person was the principal actor in a murder at one trial, and, failing to convince that jury, urges a different jury to believe that the defendant pulled the trigger in the defendant’s subsequent trial.

In Commonwealth v. Keo, Keo faced a charge of first degree murder in the shooting death of the victim, who was a member of a rival gang, in Lynn in November 2007. The evidence in that case suggested that, on that date, Bonrad Sok had called Keo, and Keo joined Sok and others at a restaurant where the victim and his girlfriend were also present. About five weeks prior to that time, the victim had stabbed Keo.

Continue reading “SJC Justices Disagree as to Effect of Prosecutor’s Seemingly Inconsistent Statements at Two Separate Trials” »

Posted by Parker Scheer LLP | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Criminal Activity , Criminal Allegations , Firearms Charges , Gangs , Guns , Homicide , Murder , Shootings