M.G.L. c. 276 Section 58A Detention: Successful Release on Conditions
In the complex landscape of criminal law, there are instances where defendants can be held in jail prior to trial without the possibility of posting bail. This type of pre-trial detention, governed by M.G.L. c. 276 section 58A, occurs when the Commonwealth (prosecutor) applies for it and a judge determines that the defendant poses a […]
Adela Aprodu Secures Case Dismissal in Incident Assault and Battery Case
As a criminal defense attorney, there is no greater satisfaction than seeing a client’s name cleared after being wrongfully accused of a crime. In a recent incident assault and battery case in Essex County, I had the privilege of fighting for my client’s freedom and reputation. After a long and arduous battle, I am proud […]
Armed Robbery and the Felony-Murder Conviction
On October 1, 2024, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court delivered a key ruling in Commonwealth v. Souza, affirming James Souza’s conviction for first-degree murder based on the felony-murder rule. This case revolved around Souza’s involvement in an armed robbery that led to the death of Vannessa Courtney, a drug dealer whom he frequently purchased drugs from, […]
Double Jeopardy in Focus
On October 2, 2024, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court affirmed the judgment in Hullum v. Commonwealth, addressing key issues around double jeopardy, duplicative convictions, and the retrial of lesser included offenses. Lance Hullum, the petitioner, appealed a county court’s decision denying his petition for extraordinary relief after his prior convictions were vacated and his retrial on […]