Source: http://masscases.com/cases/sjc/456/456mass94.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 21:52:46+00:00

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and that accordingly, he is entitled to a new trial. We further conclude that the evidence presented on the charges of witness intimidation and of filing a false police report was sufficient to support the jury's verdicts, and therefore that the defendant may be retried on all charges of which he was convicted. Finally, we find no error in the challenged jury instruction.
was released shortly thereafter on twenty-five dollars' bail. The charges against him were later dismissed because he cooperated with an internal police department investigation of the defendant.
from the beginning of the trial apparently. Then, I did some more checking and I found out that people have been denied entry into the courtroom and told that the courtroom is closed by the court officers downstairs and have been denied entry into the courtroom. At least two people have told my client that, and I haven't checked."
and supporters would testify that they were denied entry. The judge responded that the defendant's motion for mistrial had already been denied.
questions she had posed publicly to the potential jurors as a group, which they gave by raising their hands.
court to allow anyone who wanted to enter the courtroom to enter. The court credits his testimony that he obeyed that directive."
right to a public trial, like other structural rights, can be waived." Commonwealth v. Edward, 75 Mass. App. Ct. 162 , 173 (2009). See Commonwealth v. Williams, 379 Mass. 874 , 876 (1980); Commonwealth v. Wells, 360 Mass. 846 (1971). See generally Mains v. Commonwealth, 433 Mass. 30 , 33 n.3 (2000) ("Our cases have held that even structural error is subject to the doctrine of waiver").
Enterprise). The "sure knowledge that anyone is free to attend gives assurance that established procedures are being followed and that deviations will become known" (emphasis in original). Id. Throughout a trial, an open court room "enhances both the basic fairness of the criminal trial and the appearance of fairness so essential to public confidence in the system." Id. Thus, courts recognize a "strong presumption in favor of a public trial," Commonwealth v. Baran, 74 Mass. App. Ct. at 294, "overcome only by an overriding interest based on findings that closure is essential to preserve higher values and is narrowly tailored to serve that interest." Press-Enterprise, supra at 510.
v. Williams, 379 Mass. at 875. The judge concluded, and the Commonwealth argues to us, that the defendant failed to satisfy this burden. The judge reasoned that because (1) she did not order a closure, (2) some members of the public attended despite the "Do Not Enter" sign, and (3) the judge -- through court officers -- made arrangements for family and the press to be present, the court room was never "closed." We disagree.
principles do not govern here. While the judge indicated that she herself was not aware of the "Do Not Enter" sign until the fourth day of empanelment, there is no dispute that the sign was affixed to the court room door for three days, and that, pursuant to an established policy, court officers told a number of individuals that they would not be permitted in the court room during the jury selection process. The exclusion of members of the public and the press for at least three days of jury selection through the intentional application of a court house policy cannot qualify as inadvertent. Nor can it be characterized as so trivial or de minimis that it falls entirely outside the range of "closure" in the constitutional sense.
whole or in part to jury selection. Nor did she address the question of space becoming available as the empanelment process progressed on any of those days. Rather, the judge's findings and the testimony of the court officers, which the judge appeared generally to credit, indicate that the public consistently was excluded from the court room based on established court policy that, for at least three days, was graphically and unequivocally communicated by the "Do Not Enter" sign. Closure by policy runs counter to the requirement that a court make a case-specific determination before a closure of any part of a criminal proceeding constitutionally may occur. Cf. Globe Newspaper Co. v. Superior Court, 457 U.S. at 607-608 ("We agree with appellee that the first interest -- safeguarding the physical and psychological well-being of a minor is a compelling one. But as compelling as that interest is, it does not justify a mandatory closure rule, for it is clear that the circumstances of the particular case may affect the significance of the interest" [emphasis in original]).
We recognize that in court houses across the Commonwealth, insufficient space may well provide a valid reason for the exclusion of the public during at least some part of jury empanelment proceedings, because the number of prospective jurors in the venire are likely to fill all or almost all of the available seats. [Note 30] It is not required that every seat not occupied by a prospective juror must be made available to the public; as noted, the possibility that jurors may be influenced or tainted by intermingling with spectators is a valid concern that may justify excluding members of the public until space permits them to sit apart from the prospective jurors. Moreover, the judge or court officers need not undertake an affirmative effort to seek out spectators when the departure of prospective jurors frees up seats. But the public trial right applies with full force during empanelment, Presley v. Georgia, No. 09-5270, slip op. at 5 (U.S. Jan. 19, 2010), and if space in the court room is or becomes available, the judge must make sure that members of the public who wish to observe the proceedings are not prevented from doing so.
Here, the "Do Not Enter" sign had a preemptive and preventive effect. The judge acknowledged that space became available as the empanelment progressed. [Note 31] Still, for at least the first three days, the sign and the court officers turned spectators away, even during periods of time when the record indicates it would have been entirely possible to accommodate them. Because the sign continued to keep the court room closed even when circumstances changed, this partial closure was too broad. See Owens, 483 F.3d at 62 ("Once there was sufficient space in the court room, we see no state interest -- compelling or otherwise -- in not permitting . . . family, friends, or other members of the public to observe the proceedings"); State v. Torres, 844 A.2d at 161-162 (where judge excluded defendant's sisters from jury selection based on space concern and where "record reveals that the courtroom was not completely filled," closure order was "broader than necessary"; new trial ordered).
The third Waller requirement is closely connected to the second; it focuses on consideration of "reasonable alternatives to closing the proceeding." Waller, 467 U.S. at 48. See United States v. Sherlock, 962 F.2d 1349, 1359 (9th Cir. 1989), cert. denied sub nom. Charley v. United States, 506 U.S. 958 (1992); Commonwealth v. Martin, 39 Mass. App. Ct. at 49. As discussed, the judge took meaningful steps in this direction, holding the empanelment proceedings in the largest available court room and reserving space for the defendant's family and the press. However, additional alternatives should have been examined. There are ways to communicate to members of the public that the court room currently cannot accommodate them other than by placing a "Do Not Enter" sign on the door. The difficulty with such a sign is that it is too easy to forget to remove it when space does become available.
Commonwealth v. Martin, 39 Mass. App. Ct. at 48 ("While we think that the judge should have expressly rather than implicitly determined whether the witness would have had difficulty testifying with the defendant's mother present, it was not constitutional error requiring a new trial not to do so in the particular circumstances of recent intimidation by other family members"). [Note 32] Although the record in this case offers evidence of a number of reasons to effect a partial closure during parts of the empanelment, ultimately, it does not allow us to glean sufficient support for the extensive closure that occurred. See Bowden v. Keane, 237 F.3d 125, 131 (2d Cir. 2001) ("quality and extent of the evidence that will support a closure . . . will vary from case to case, depending on the scope of the closure").
interpret the judge's statements as a determination of waiver, but disagree that a waiver occurred.
Individual juror voir dire examinations in this case were conducted out of hearing of the defendant and the public, but the voir dire examination process itself took place, as it should have, in open court. Commonwealth v. Horton, 434 Mass. 823 , 831-832 (2001). Conducting such voir dire examinations in open court permits members of the public to observe the judge, as well as the prospective jurors. Even though the public cannot hear what is being said, the ability to observe itself furthers the values that the public trial right is designed to protect. See Waller, 467 U.S. at 46, quoting Gannett Co. v. De Pasquale, 443 U.S. 368, 380 (1979) (" 'The requirement of a public trial is for the benefit of the accused; that the public may see he is fairly dealt with and not unjustly condemned, and that the presence of interested spectators may keep his triers keenly alive to a sense of their responsibility and to the importance of their functions.' . . . In addition to ensuring that judge and prosecutor carry out their duties responsibly, a public trial encourages witnesses to come forward and discourages perjury"); Owens, 483 F.3d at 61 ("a trial is far more likely to be fair when the watchful eye of the public is present"). The defendant had a right to have the public present during these individual juror examinations, just as he had a right during the trial to have spectators present in the court room while sidebar conferences took place out of their earshot. Moreover, the jury selection proceedings also included voir dire questions publicly posed to the venire as a group, to which potential jurors gave substantive responses by raising their hands. The defendant had, and did not waive, the right to have the public hear the judge's questions and witness the prospective jurors' responses. See Commonwealth v. Horton, 434 Mass. at 832, quoting Commonwealth v. Gordon, 422 Mass. at 823 ("The guarantees of open public proceedings in criminal trials cover proceedings for the voir dire examination of potential jurors concerning their qualifications to serve").
that this was a tactic undertaken by the defendant's counsel to create an appellate issue. The record does not support this view. Rather, it shows that on the day counsel testified that he first saw the "Do Not Enter" sign, he objected forcefully to the court room's closure three separate times, asking in substance for a new empanelment before jeopardy had even attached. [Note 33] Nothing in the record suggests that counsel, or the defendant, was dissatisfied with the jurors who had been selected by that point in the proceedings, or that there was any dissatisfaction with the jury as ultimately constituted; as the Commonwealth points out, the defendant did not exercise all his peremptory challenges during the empanelment process.
inquire as to whether it prejudiced the defendant. See Commonwealth v. Marshall, 356 Mass. at 435. We turn, instead, to remedy. The relief for a breach of the public trial right "should be appropriate to the violation." Waller, 467 U.S. at 50. In Waller, where a judge improperly closed a suppression hearing, the Supreme Court ordered a new suppression hearing, reasoning that if that hearing led to the suppression of the same evidence, a new trial would not be necessary; it would be, rather, "a windfall for the defendant, and not in the public interest." Id. Here, however, we cannot separately order a new jury selection apart from a new trial, and releasing the transcripts of empanelment, as has been suggested, will not appropriately remedy the violation. Cf. Press-Enterprise, 464 U.S. at 513 (where judge closed court room for six weeks of juror voir dire in violation of First Amendment right of plaintiff newspaper, plaintiff entitled to transcript of voir dire proceedings as remedy). The defendant is entitled to a new trial.
the judge erred in denying his motions for a required finding of not guilty on the two charges of witness intimidation and the charge of filing a false police report, which he made at the close of the Commonwealth's evidence. [Note 36] In his view, the Commonwealth presented insufficient evidence to support his conviction of any of these crimes. In reviewing the defendant's claims, we ask whether, viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the Commonwealth, "any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt" (emphasis in original). Commonwealth v. Latimore, 378 Mass. 671 , 677 (1979).
included the following. Kelly was working as a bank teller on April 30, 2002, when the defendant entered the bank in police uniform and asked her to verify that Hills's account contained sufficient funds to cover the $9,000 check that Hills wrote to Marinilli. She told the defendant that it did not. Kelly did not hear from the defendant again until September, 2004, a few weeks before the grand jury investigation into his conduct began, when he called to tell her that "him and Mr. Hills were going to court." Kelly testified that the defendant "wanted me to sign a statement that he wrote up for the court" about his actions at the bank. [Note 38] During the call, he went over the events of April 30, 2002, with Kelly, but she "did not think it was the way it happened." She testified, "I don't remember exactly what was said, but I just didn't agree with it." Kelly "didn't feel right" signing the statement the defendant asked her to adopt as her own. Kelly told the defendant this, and he asked her to meet with him about the statement. Not wanting to do so, she "just never talked to him again after that." He then called her "close to ten times." Kelly reported this to her manager. She testified, "I felt intimidated. I didn't feel comfortable with the whole situation."
and told him that he had in his possession a document on which Hills had forged Sexton's signature. When Sexton went to Marathas's office the next day to see that document, Marathas could not find it. Marathas changed the subject, stating, "You know, the thing that's going on with Dave Cohen? . . . You wrote a statement for that, didn't you?" Sexton acknowledged that he had, referring to the statement Hills had helped him to prepare, and said that he wished he was not involved, as he was "reluctant to be involved with Hills or [the defendant]." Marathas asked, "Well, have you thought about writing out another statement?" Marathas offered to telephone the defendant. Sexton asked him not to, but Marathas persisted, and placed a call to the defendant. Within the hour, the defendant contacted Sexton and asked Sexton to meet him at another restaurant owned by Marathas. Sexton agreed and went to that restaurant. Despite the purportedly impromptu nature of the meeting, the defendant arrived at Marathas's restaurant with a copy of Sexton's 2002 statement in hand. Sexton testified, "[The defendant] wanted me to -- well, we discussed writing another statement." He said, "Now, I can see, looking back, that the reason to write that statement was to -- I'm looking for the right word -- discredit Hills."
with the lawyer, in which the lawyer advised him that his second statement did not take away from his first, and that it was up to him whether to sign it. When Sexton went to his lawyer's office a day or two later to sign the statement drafted by the defendant, the lawyer was not there because his wife was in labor. However, the defendant was at the lawyer's office to meet Sexton. Sexton signed the statement and gave it to him.
juror could have concluded that the defendant sought to interfere with and influence Kelly and Sexton by both means at issue. With respect to misrepresentation, a jury could reasonably conclude that the defendant intended to influence Kelly and Sexton to execute written statements containing factual inaccuracies about the 2002 events they had witnessed by making to each of them misrepresentations about those events.
Turning to intimidation, the defendant's "subjective intent is not relevant." Commonwealth v. Gordon, 44 Mass. App. Ct. 233 , 236 (1998). "It is sufficient that a reasonable fact finder could have inferred from the circumstances that he did, indeed, intimidate [the witnesses]." Id. Additionally, an "action does not need to be overtly threatening to fall within the meaning of 'intimidation.' " Commonwealth v. Casiano, 70 Mass. App. Ct. at 708, quoting Commonwealth v. Gordon, supra at 235-236. Calling Kelly ten times qualifies as intimidation. Kelly testified that she did not feel comfortable, and reported this to her manager. As for Sexton, a jury could reasonably conclude the defendant intended to intimidate him so that he would sign a new statement. The defendant's application of time pressure and his show of authority, both formal (for example, while in uniform) and informal, warrants this inference. Moreover, "the timing of the defendant's actions makes it more, rather than less, likely that he was trying to intimidate the witness." Commonwealth v. Robinson, 444 Mass. 102 , 109 (2005). See Commonwealth v. Casiano, 70 Mass. App. Ct. at 709. Although Sexton's testimony suggests mixed motives for his decision to sign the second statement, he testified that he was, in fact, intimidated. "Jurors, of course, are free to believe or disbelieve the testimony of each witness in whole or in part." Commonwealth v. Zanetti, 454 Mass. 449 , 457 (2009). In sum, the judge properly denied the defendant's motion for required findings of not guilty on both counts of witness intimidation.
(ii) Filing a false police report. [Note 43] To support a false police report conviction, the evidence must establish that the defendant, acting as a police officer in the course of his official duties, filed a false written report "knowing the same to be false in a material matter." G. L. c. 268, § 6A. The defendant concedes that "a jury could find that some aspects of [his] police report were inaccurate." Indeed, testimony from Sexton [Note 44] and Hills [Note 45] contradicted the statement the defendant made in his report that Hills had "a large black folding knife in the pen organizer of his desk" and that he handcuffed Hills for "my own safety." Still, he claims this inaccuracy was not "material" because it did not affect whether his report properly led to a complaint against Hills.
Hills with handcuffs and pat-frisked him for weapons," was not required for a complaint of larceny or uttering to issue against Hills, it certainly affected any inquiry into whether the defendant acted permissibly and reasonably in handcuffing Hills. Because the basis for the defendant's decision to handcuff Hills could become relevant if, for example, Hills filed a complaint against the defendant in court or with the police department, the defendant's statements about handcuffing qualify as a material part of the police report regarding the incident. Therefore, the judge did not err in denying the motion for a required finding of not guilty.
When the judge instructed the jury on this case, she explained the element of "malicious and unlawful" intent as follows: "Third, the Commonwealth must prove that the threatening communication was undertaken maliciously . . . . Maliciously means that the defendant intended to inflict injury without legal excuse." The defendant argues that the judge understated the Commonwealth's burden on this element by failing to explain how the jury should evaluate the lawfulness of a police officer's conduct. He contends that without such special guidance, the instruction criminalized a police officer's lawful and discretionary act of giving a thief a choice between return of stolen goods and criminal prosecution. As the defendant objected to the instruction, we review for prejudicial error. Commonwealth v. Clemente, 452 Mass. 295 , 319 (2008), cert. denied, 129 S. Ct. 1329 (2009).
"The emphasis in the crime of extortion is on the wrongful use of fear to compel the alleged victim to surrender something of value to the extortionist" (emphasis added). [Note 46] The instruction adequately conveyed to the jury the difference between permissible discretionary actions by a police officer and wrongful conduct that would fall within the statute's scope. [Note 47] There was no error.
f. Conclusion. The order denying the defendant's motion for a new trial is vacated. The judgments of conviction are reversed and the verdicts set aside. The case is remanded to the Superior Court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
"The generic risk of jurors over-hearing prejudicial remarks, unsubstantiated by any specific threat or incident, is inherent whenever members of the public are present during the selection of jurors. If broad concerns of this sort were sufficient to override a defendant's constitutional right to a public trial, a court could exclude the public from jury selection almost as a matter of course."
Id. Still, the Court recognized that "[t]here are no doubt circumstances where a judge could conclude that threats of improper communications with jurors or safety concerns are concrete enough to warrant closing voir dire," emphasizing that in such cases "the particular interest, and threat to that interest, must 'be articulated along with findings specific enough that a reviewing court can determine whether the closure order was properly entered.' " Id., quoting Press-Enterprise, 464 U.S. at 510. Presley addressed a full closure of the courtroom. However, the Supreme Court's concern about the intermingling rationale appears to apply in the partial closure context as well; the record must still reflect a case-specific determination that the risk to the venire in the particular case from intermingling is a real one, and that the trial court satisfied its "obligat[ion] to take every reasonable measure to accommodate public attendance." Id. at 6 (emphasis added).
[Note 29] This is not to say that there is an obligation to accommodate every spectator who can find a seat anywhere in the court room; it would be permissible to exclude some spectators if the only available seats for them were located right next to the seats occupied by prospective jurors, and the judge determines, on the record, that this close proximity creates a risk of juror contamination or taint in the particular case. See Presley v. Georgia, No. 09-5270, slip op. at 7 (U.S. Jan. 19, 2010).
[Note 30] Where the venire will initially take up the entire court room, however, it may be appropriate for the judge to announce at the outset that, because of space limitations, it is not possible immediately to accommodate members of the public, but that individuals who wish to observe empanelment proceedings will be permitted to enter the court room as space becomes available.
[Note 31] The record does not indicate how much space became available. John White, whose testimony the judge referenced and credited in her findings, stated that on Wednesday, June 20, "[t]here was an empty bench in front of me and, again, I sat in the last row."
[Note 32] See also Bowden v. Keane, 237 F.3d 125, 131-132 (2d Cir. 2001) (while specific findings required before complete closure, "competent evidence from the record" can support partial closure); United States v. Farmer, 32 F.3d at 371 ("specific findings . . . are not necessary if we can glean sufficient support for a partial temporary closure from the record"); State v. Garcia, 561 N.W.2d at 607 (for partial closure, "court need only articulate findings in terms specific enough for a reviewing court to determine the basis for the order").
[Note 33] In her decision on the defendant's motion for a new trial, the judge stated, "[t]he defendant moved for a mistrial despite the fact that the jury had not been empaneled. [The defendant's attorney] never asked the court to dismiss the venire and recommence jury selection." It seems reasonable to assume that in requesting a mistrial at the time he did, the defendant's attorney was, in effect, requesting that jury empanelment begin again. In any event, given the defendant's objection to the empanelment procedure that had taken place, recommencing jury selection would have been the appropriate response.
[Note 34] The defendant's counsel expressly testified that he was not aware that a "blanket" closure would occur. Additionally, the court officer testified that on the fourth day of empanelment, June 21, 2007, the defendant's counsel approached him and asked, "Has that sign been up?" The asking of the question suggests that counsel had only recently become aware of the sign.
[Note 35] As to waiver, we repeat that the defendant raised his claim of Sixth Amendment public trial violation as soon as he said that he became aware of the "Do Not Enter" sign, and at a time when the violation could have been remedied by beginning the empanelment process anew. Cf. Commonwealth v. McDuffee, 379 Mass. 353 , 359 (1979) (noting that "the rationale behind the requirement of a specific exception is to enable the judge to make any necessary correction"). Cf. also Commonwealth v. Reid, 384 Mass. 247 , 257-258 (1981) (where defendant did not object to portion of jury charge challenged on appeal, she failed to preserve issue, given rule that party claiming error in charge must bring it to judge's attention to permit judge to correct error, if any). There may well be tactical reasons -- a favorable jury composition, for example -- why a defendant and his counsel do not object to the exclusion of the public from his trial. See Martineau v. Perrin, 601 F.2d 1196, 1200 (1st Cir. 1979) (finding waiver where "petitioner's attorney was caught on the horns of a dilemma at the time he discovered that the [court room] doors were locked. He felt that the case was proceeding well and saw no harm suffered by the petitioner due to the closed court room. In fact, he felt that the effect was probably to petitioner's benefit. If a motion for mistrial were made and granted, then what was perceived at the time as a good chance for acquittal would go down the drain. Counsel fully explained the situation to petitioner, told him what his decision was and then informed his client that 'at any time he wanted to' he could get up and object himself, which petitioner did not do"). Cf. Commonwealth v. Edward, 75 Mass. App. Ct. 162 , 174 (2009) (remanding for hearing to determine whether counsel had sound tactical reason for declining to object to partial closure of court room during complainant's testimony and whether defendant agreed). Failure of a defendant or his counsel to raise an objection when first made aware of an alleged public trial right violation is, at the very least, a strong indication of waiver. See Commonwealth v. Wells, 360 Mass. 846 (1971).
[Note 36] We find no indication in the record that the defendant moved for a required finding of not guilty with respect to the charge of filing a false police report. We discuss this point infra.
[Note 38] Neither the statement the defendant asked Kelly to adopt, nor a subsequent statement that Kelly prepared herself, was introduced in evidence at trial. Thus, our knowledge of the contents of those statements is limited to the testimony, which sheds little light, other than to indicate that Kelly believed the statement the defendant asked her to sign contained misrepresentations about what happened at the bank on April 30, 2002.
[Note 39] Sexton's statements were not introduced in evidence, but were marked for identification. As with Kelly, our knowledge of the substance of the statements comes solely from Sexton's testimony.
[Note 40] The defendant was not in uniform when he met Sexton at the restaurant and Sexton testified that he and the defendant agreed that the defendant was not meeting with him "as a police officer or as an attorney." However, Sexton also testified that, at the time, he knew that the defendant was a Stoughton police officer.
[Note 41] The defendant does not challenge the sufficiency of the evidence regarding the "witness" element of this crime, i.e., that both Kelly and Sexton were to be witnesses against him.
[Note 42] The defendant claims that because the judge instructed the jury on two "theories" of witness interference -- interference by means of intimidation and interference by means of misrepresentation -- and the jury returned general verdicts, the evidence had to establish both that he (1) intended to intimidate and (2) made intentional misrepresentations to both Jamie Kelly and Brian Sexton. The defendant objected to the Commonwealth's request to charge the jury on a misrepresentation theory, but he did not request a specific unanimity instruction. Even if he had, it is not at all clear that he would have been entitled to one. See, e.g., Commonwealth v. Santos, 440 Mass. 281 , 289 (2003) ( "While it may be difficult to construct a precise definition identifying those alternate 'theories' that will require specific unanimity, it is clear that the rule does not automatically extend to every alternate method by which a single element may be established. As here, those alternatives are often closely related, and no purpose would be served by requiring the jury to dissect the evidence and agree as to which related, or even overlapping, variant of the same element had been proved"). In any event, there was sufficient evidence in this case of both intimidation and misrepresentation.
[Note 43] As previously stated, there is no indication in the record that the defendant preserved his claim of error regarding the sufficiency of the evidence on the false police report charge, although the Commonwealth does not raise the point. We review the claim for a substantial risk of a miscarriage of justice. Commonwealth v. McGovern, 397 Mass. 863 , 867-868 (1986).
[Note 44] In Sexton's first statement he said he never saw a knife in Hills's office. In his second statement, the one crafted with the defendant's help, Sexton said, "I know for a fact that a knife referenced in David Cohen's report was a black handled letter opener that did resemble a knife, and it was, in fact, in Mr. Hills pen holder, and if Mr. Hill[s] was standing beside his desk, it was placed on the left side of the desk." From Sexton's testimony, a jury could reasonably infer that the defendant falsely reported that Hills had a knife and tried to cover up that untruth by helping Sexton to "remember" seeing a letter opener that looked like a knife. An inference of intent drawn from circumstantial evidence "need only be reasonable and possible and need not be necessary or inescapable." Commonwealth v. Casale, 381 Mass. 167 , 173 (1980).
[Note 45] Hills testified that he did not become irate, that he did not have a knife in his office, and that the defendant did not at any time call for backup or unhook his mace can or gun.
[Note 46] The defendant claims the judge made matters worse by stating that a "malicious threat is criminal if it was intended to enforce the payment of a just debt." Immediately after making that statement, the judge clarified what she meant, stating: "Again, a malicious threat is criminal even if it was intended to enforce the payment of a just debt; that is, money that the victim rightfully may have owed. If you find the threat to be malicious as I have just described, then such threat is criminal even if the alleged victim actually owed a debt to another person" (emphasis added). In the context of the entire instruction, the judge correctly stated the law. Cf. Commonwealth v. Coolidge, 128 Mass. 55 , 59-60 (1880) (no error in instruction that "threat, made by one whose goods had been stolen, that he would prosecute the supposed thief . . . could not be considered as made maliciously, and with intent to extort property, unless there were other proofs of malice and intended extortion" [emphasis added]).
[Note 47] The defendant sought an instruction to the effect that in evaluating whether a police officer acted maliciously, the jury must "presume that the acts of [the defendant], being a police officer, were done legally, in good faith, and within the scope of his official duties." Such an instruction would effectively immunize police officers from conviction. The judge did not err in declining to give it.

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