Case Name: James M. Kater vs. Commonwealth
Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Decision Date: 1995-12-21
Citations: 421 Mass. 1008
Docket Number: 
Parties: James M. Kater vs. Commonwealth.
Judges: 
Reporter: Massachusetts Reports
Volume: 421
Pages: 1008–1009

Head Matter:
James M. Kater vs. Commonwealth.
December 21, 1995.
Supreme Judicial Court,
Superintendence of inferior courts.

Opinion:
James M. Kater (defendant) has been convicted by two different juries of kidnapping and murder in the first degree; this court has reversed the convictions on both occasions. A third trial ended in a mistrial. The Commonwealth is preparing to try the defendant a fourth time. To that end, the Commonwealth filed a motion in limine to admit evidence of prior bad acts. The trial judge allowed the Commonwealth's motion.
In August, 1995, the defendant filed in the county court a petition for relief under G. L. c. 211, § 3 (1994 ed.). A single justice denied the petition. The defendant appealed. The Commonwealth has moved to dismiss the appeal. The Commonwealth's motion is allowed. Whatever relief the defendant may be entitled to may be sought in the normal course of appeal.
Joseph F. Krowski, for the defendant, submitted a brief.
Appeal dismissed.