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Commonwealth v. King Opinion Summary: Defendant was convicted of unlawful distribution of cocaine. The Appeals court affirmed his conviction, holding that the field test and other circumstances rendered the admission of a certificate of drug analysis harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. The court granted defendant's application for further appellate review and paired this case for argument with Commonwealth v. Billings. Because the court concluded that, in the specific circumstances of this case, the Commonwealth's evidence was not so overwhelming as to nullify the effect of the erroneously admitted certificate, the judgment was reversed.
COMMONWEALTH vs. Joshua L. KING.
SJC-10844.
October 3, 2011. - January 19, 2012.
Controlled Substances. Constitutional Law, Confrontation of witnesses. Evidence, Certificate of drug analysis.
Practice, Criminal, Confrontation of witnesses, Harmless error.

INDICTMENT found and returned in the Superior Court Department on June 10, 2005.

The case was heard by Carol S. Ball, J.

After review by the Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court granted leave to obtain further appellate review.

James M. Fox for the defendant.

Christine M. Kiggen, Assistant District Attorney, for the Commonwealth.

Present: Ireland, C.J., Spina, Cordy, Botsford, & Gants, JJ.

IRELAND, C.J.

In 2008, in a bifurcated, jury-waived trial, the defendant was convicted of unlawful distribution of cocaine, in violation
of G.L. c. 94C,

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Massachusetts Law