Boston’s Supreme Judicial Court has released a ruling in the case of a woman who had been convicted of murder. The case dates back to 2003. Solange Anestal (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) was accused of plunging a 16-inch piece of glass into her boyfriend’s chest, causing his death. It happened in…
Often, a trial is like a Broadway play; it is, after all, a real human drama. Especially in the case of criminal trials. One of the tricks of the trade, in both disciplines, is to manage suspense. Call it window dressing or call it crucial supporting evidence, but prosecutors sure…
So, how was your halloween experience this year? Well, no matter how good or bad it was, you probably had a better time than Chelsea’s Miguel Antonio Rivera, 35 (hereinafter, the “Defendant”). Let’s put it this way…instead of candy, he was given the Commonwealth bracelets of shame. Then, after his…
Last night, I dreamt that I was representing a gentleman who had been accused of murder. His name was Kyle Killer. In the dream, we were heading off to trial. You know…the trial is the place where the government has to prove each element of every crime charged beyond a…
Sometimes, in the criminal justice system, timing is everything. Waltham’s Michael Cammisaro, 57, hereinafter, the “Defendant”) is now contemplating that lesson with perhaps a few bruises to keep him company. You see, at around 11:00 this morning, the Defendant decided to take the ‘T”. He went to the Park Street…
Well, after a day’s absence due to a loss of power thanks to Hurricane Sandy, Attorney Sam’s Take is back to daily postings. You might wonder, by the way, how the criminal courts, and Massachusetts crime in general, deals with such weather events. Does everything stop? Do the courts, like…
Yesterday we discussed the recent car-stop-turned-drug-bust in which two people were arrested. The driver seems to have been arrested for driving without a license while the passenger (hereinafter, “Mr. Stoner”), was arrested for the usual jitney of drug possession crimes. Once this amount is seized, not to mention a scale…
Regardless of what you thought would happen after Massachusetts decriminalized marijuana…law enforcement continues to look for it. When a lot of it is found, well, that’s when police take a bow. Even if it is found totally by accident. Like the new Human Trafficking statute about which we have been…
As you have read in various Attorney Sam’s Takes in the past, it is like being accused of nothing else. Somehow, any allegation of criminal acts involving sex bring with it shame, embarrassment and an even greater assumption of guilt. After all, the age-old question of “Why would she lie?”…
Yesterday, I left off responding to what I meant when I said that an arrest for engaging in the sex trade, either as consumer or worker, should be taken extremely seriously…which I will. First, however, let’s look at yesterday’s court action with regard to the other side of the sexual…