Source: http://masscases.com/cases/sjc/373/373mass109.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 14:15:25+00:00

Document:
Joseph A. Todisco for the defendant.
Robert McKenna, Assistant District Attorney (Edward M. Burns, Legal Assistant to the District Attorney, & Thomas R. Reardon, Assistant District Attorney, with him) for the Commonwealth.
While expressing the view that much of the new trial motion repeated matter that had been before this court on the appeal from the conviction, and had been already ruled on here, the judge undertook a reexamination of the trial transcript in connection with his appraisal of the motion. We have done the same, and reach the same negative conclusion.
the defendant took the stand in his own defense (he was the only defense witness), he admitted his own involvement but said that, being very drunk from intermittent drinking since the afternoon of the previous day, he had stumbled into the victim outside the lodging house, and in the altercation that followed he had kicked him defensively. The defendant's extenuating story -- including his claims that he was intoxicated to the point of being incapable of deliberate premeditation, and that he acted or commenced to act in self-defense (he was twenty-eight years old, the victim fifty-seven) -- emerges unimpressively from the transcript. Following instructions that put all the alternatives to the jury as to murder and manslaughter, the jury returned the verdict mentioned, which may have been based on a finding of murder "with extreme atrocity or cruelty."
Our reading of the trial transcript confirms the judge's view, expressed at the trial and again in the findings on the new trial motion, that counsel for the defendant in his general conduct of the case in court gave competent service to his client. He made a full battery of pre-trial motions. He had a command of the facts and examined the witnesses with care. His interactions with opposing counsel and the court were those of a lawyer of some experience. It may be that an examiner with the skill of a Patrick Hastings could have made better progress on cross-examination, but one concludes that the basic trouble from the defense standpoint was weaknesses in the facts rather than any inadequacy of counsel.
To turn to particular criticisms, there were serious strains in the defendant's relation with counsel, and we must see whether any ground exists here for a new trial.
morning, at an interval in the questioning of members of the venire, counsel said he wanted to state for the record that his client was not listening to him and was insisting that the case be conducted his way. To which the defendant answered that counsel was "mad" at him because he had not gone along with the manslaughter plea. The judge remarked that the defendant would do better to consider the advice of counsel but could insist that a given course be followed even against that advice.
Next day, after damaging direct testimony by Cook, the judge, referring to the earlier exchange, inquired whether the defendant would now prefer to question the witness himself, with counsel's assistance. The defendant said he was content to have counsel do the questioning; and the judge added that the defendant could make suggestions to counsel. By the close of the day, Cook had been cross-examined, and much of the rest of the weight of the Commonwealth's case had been put in.
By this time counsel had become so concerned about the defendant's fractiousness that he procured a psychiatric examination to be made of the defendant before the next session of court. The psychiatrist reported that the defendant remained rational and able to stand trial but wanted to "fire" his counsel.
The defense proceeded on the latter basis, and the record shows counsel conferring with the defendant many times. It seems that it was at the defendant's initiative that a view of the area at 617 Massachusetts Avenue was taken after the Commonwealth rested, and at the defendant's request the chemist was recalled and specific questions suggested by the defendant were put by counsel (against his advice) as further cross-examination. After the charge to the jury, the judge inquired of the defendant at counsel's request whether he was satisfied with the representation he had had at trial, and the answer was yes.
In the foregoing account of the trial proper, we perceive no ground, whether as to any claimed ineffectiveness of counsel or otherwise, for relieving the defendant of the judgment. [Note 6] It may be noted that Commonwealth v. Miskel, 364 Mass. 783 (1974), which postdated our first decision in the present case, makes it quite clear that the judge was well within the range of his discretion in dealing with the exigencies of the case as he did, and particularly in refusing to allow dismissal and substitution of counsel (presumably involving a mistrial).
and entering a taxicab which drove away; Cook mentioned also a white man who emerged from a building onto the scene and then retreated. (None of this had been communicated to counsel by the defendant.) The officer in charge of the case testified that a Chinese couple was found, but disclaimed having seen anything; neither the taxicab driver nor the white man could be found; and inquiries at nearby buildings for witnesses were fruitless. [Note 9] There was argument that counsel should have protested the Commonwealth's omission to give notice of the four possible witnesses as a violation of a pre-trial order requiring the Commonwealth to disclose exculpatory evidence, or that counsel should have demanded an opportunity to seek out and interrogate the Chinese couple (which might have required a mistrial). But the "evidence" was, after all, empty rather than exculpatory, and if pursued would in all probability have led to the same dead end testified to by the police. See Commonwealth v. Pisa, 372 Mass. 590, 593-597 (1977); United States v. Agurs, 427 U.S. 97 (1976).
We should recall that in a case where ineffective assistance of counsel is charged, there ought to be some showing that better work might have accomplished something material for the defense. [Note 10] An exception might be indulged where the defense was so botched that judgments on that hypothetical question would be without value. That is not the present case.
The judge's denial of a new trial lay within his sound discretion. Commonwealth v. Devereaux, 257 Mass. 391, 394 (1926).
[Note 1] The court dealt with contentions that the statute defining murder in the first degree, in so far as it spoke of murder "with extreme atrocity or cruelty," was unduly vague, and that there was insufficient evidence to support the verdict. As to the points about representation by counsel and mitigation under Section 33E, see note 10 infra.
[Note 2] In June, 1975, the defendant applied for habeas corpus in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts on grounds like those urged on the new trial motion. The application eventuated in May, 1976, in a dismissal in part, without prejudice, for failure to exhaust available State remedies. This presumably referred to the present appeal from the denial of the new trial which had been taken but not perfected. On motion, a single justice of this court allowed late perfection of the appeal.
As to a part of the habeas corpus application denied with prejudice, see note 12 infra.
[Note 3] This and other such colloquies occurred out of the hearing of prospective jurors or those who served in the case.
[Note 4] He mentioned the talk he had had with the judge who had presided at the probable cause hearing; see below.
[Note 5] At this and a later stage the defendant indicated that he just wanted to get on the stand and tell his story. The judge advised him of the regular procedure and noted that he could make a statement to the jury; he did so after the closing arguments and before the judge instructed the jury.
[Note 6] We said on the prior appeal: "The defendant's claim as to a conflict between himself and counsel as affecting the outcome of the case is not persuasive," and "[w]e have reviewed the entire evidence and are of opinion that justice does not require a new trial or the entry of a verdict of a lesser degree of guilt." 362 Mass. at 83.
[Note 7] Rule 95 has become Rule 53 (1976), as amended, with changed requirements.
[Note 8] The findings refer to a contention that when the defendant indicated to the trial judge he wanted to fire counsel, and the judge refused to allow it, counsel reverted to the status of a court appointed counsel who, as it then happened, could not satisfy Rule 95. We agree this was mere word play, and need not answer the question what is the consequence of noncompliance with that rule.
[Note 9] We are not impressed with the suggestion that the defendant was materially prejudiced by the prosecutor's remark in his closing speech that no one wanted to come forward.
[Note 10] "[W]hat is required in the actual process of decision of claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, and what our own decisions have sought to afford, is a discerning examination and appraisal of the specific circumstances of the given case to see whether there has been serious incompetency, inefficiency, or inattention of counsel -- behavior of counsel falling measurably below that which might be expected from an ordinary fallible lawyer -- and, if that is found, then, typically, whether it has likely deprived the defendant of an otherwise available, substantial ground of defence." Commonwealth v. Saferian, 366 Mass. 89, 96 (1974).
[Note 11] See Commonwealth v. Saferian, supra at 97.
[Note 12] The judge who heard the application for Federal habeas corpus denied on the merits so much of the application as claimed that the petitioner's rights were violated at the probable cause hearing. Cf. Commonwealth v. Britt, 362 Mass. 325, 330 (1972).

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