Contents-- Judge Borenstein's decision

12 Jun 98

On 12 June 1998, Judge Isaac Borenstein of Middlesex Superior Court issued an order granting Cheryl Amirault LeFave a new trial in the notorious Fells Acres day-care ritual abuse case.

The transcript of Judge Borenstein's spoken remarks (12 Jun 98) (about 4 pages long) provides an excellent overview of his 140-page written opinion.


Actual text of the 140-page opinion

Pages 1-64 were scanned from a photocopy.
Pages 65-128 are courtesy of the Social Law Library (Boston MA), who posted an authoritative (electronic) copy at this site:

http://www.socialaw.com/superior/Amirault.html
Their homepage is at
http://www.socialaw.com
I manually added the footnotes, which were not at the Social Law site on 1 Jul 98.

Page numbers refer to Judge Borenstein's 140-page manuscript. Photocopies are available for $70 at Middlesex Superior Court in East Cambridge MA.

Most of the words in the outline below were taken directly from Judge Borenstein's manuscript. Part of it was compiled courtesy of Edward J. Collins, Esq. Additions are in square brackets [].

Contents

para # and title, page #

Introduction, p. 1

I. Procedural History, p. 3

II. Summary of Finding and Rulings, p. 4

III. Findings of Fact, p. 8


RULINGS OF LAW

IV. New Trial Based Upon Newly Discovered Evidence Standard, p. 95

V. The Newly Discovered Evidence Meets the Evidentiary Standards for Admission of Expert Testimony, p. 104

VI. [NJ] State v. Michaels Provides a Relevant Framework for This Court's Decision, p. 108

VII. The Defendant Has Not Waived Her Rights, Nor Are Her Claims Moot, p. 128
VIII. Under a Totality of All the Circumstances, the Defendant is Also Entitled to a New Trial, p. 138


IX. Order [for a New Trial],p. 140


Return to Bob Chatelle's Fells Acres report (most up-to-date coverage)

Return to listing of Fells Acres articles, 1997 to present (1999).

Return to HSC's 1997 report on Fells Acres and the Boston Press

Return to HSC home page