Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 345 N.E.2d 690 (Mass. 1976). · Go Syfert
Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 345 N.E.2d 690 (Mass. 1976). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
113 citation events (25 in the last 25 years) across 5 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Commonwealth v. Dara Poum (mass, 2025-07-09)
Treatment trajectory · 1976 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1976 2001 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 50 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Commonwealth v. Dara Poum
Mass. · 2025 · signal: see · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
insults or quarreling alone cannot provide a reasonable provocation
examined Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Commonwealth v. Gaudette (2×) also: Cited "see"
Mass. · 2004 · signal: see · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
unless admissible on some other ground to prove the truth of the facts asserted, such a prior consistent statement is admissible only to show that the witness's in-court testimony is not the product of the asserted inducement or bias or is not recently contrived as claimed
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Commonwealth v. McLaughlin
Mass. · 2001 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
trial judge has a range of discretion in determining whether a suggestion of recent contrivance exists in the circumstances
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Commonwealth v. Masello (2×) also: Cited as authority (rule)
Mass. · 1998 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
ijnsults and quarreling alone cannot provide a reasonable provocation
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Nik Y. Hammond.
Mass. App. Ct. · 2023 · confidence medium
But "a witness's prior consistent statement is admissible where a claim is made that the witness's in-court statement is of recent contrivance." Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 26 (1976). 3 3 There is no merit to the Commonwealth's suggestion that no prior consistent statement was elicited, as the victim only testified as to the act of reporting and did not testify as to the contents of her conversations with the police.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Caruso (2×)
Mass. · 2017 · confidence medium
See Commonwealth v. Rivera, 430 Mass. 91, 100 (1999); Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 27 (1976).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Lessieur
Mass. · 2015 · confidence medium
Prior consistent statements are “generally inadmissible to corroborate in-court testimony or a witness’s credibility, but they are admissible when offered in response to a claim of bias, inducement, or recent contrivance.” Commonwealth v. Saarela, 376 Mass. 720, 722 (1978), citing Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 26-27 (1976).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Rodriquez
Mass. · 2011 · confidence medium
Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 28-29 (1976).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Barbosa
Mass. · 2010 · confidence medium
Commonwealth v. Saarela, 376 Mass. 720, 723 (1978), citing Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 27 (1976).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Novo
Mass. · 2007 · confidence medium
See Commonwealth v. Andrews, 403 Mass. 441, 454 (1988); Commonwealth v. Healy, 393 Mass. 367, 384 (1984); Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 26-27 (1976); Commonwealth v. Binienda, 20 Mass. App. Ct. 756, 759 (1985), and cases cited.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Bruce
Mass. App. Ct. · 2004 · confidence medium
See Commonwealth v. Jenkins, 10 Gray 485 , 488-489 (1858); Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 26 (1976); Commonwealth v. Darden, 5 Mass. App. Ct. 522, 527 (1977).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Bougas
Mass. App. Ct. · 2003 · confidence medium
That the statement was deemed inadmissible on a fresh complaint theory does not preclude its admission on a different ground. “[A] witness’s prior consistent statement is admissible where a claim is made that the witness’s in-court statement is of recent contrivance or is the product of particular inducements or bias.” Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 26-27 (1976).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Diemer
Mass. App. Ct. · 2003 · confidence medium
“The trial judge has a range of discretion in determining whether a suggestion of recent contrivance exists in the circumstances.” Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 27 (1976).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Medina
Mass. · 2000 · confidence medium
See, e.g., Commonwealth v. Pitts, 403 Mass. 665 , 667-668 & n.2 (1989) (manslaughter instruction not warranted where defendant testified that he did not kill victim and there was no evidence that he subjectively experienced heat of passion); Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 28-29 (1976) (no provocation instruction warranted where victim swore and threw glass at defendant; threat from thrown glass had passed before defendant struck victim); Commonwealth v. Holmes, 32 Mass. App. Ct. 906, 908 (1992) (no manslaughter instruction warranted where defendant stabbed victim from behind as victim …
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Elliot
Mass. · 1999 · confidence medium
See also Commonwealth v. Masello, 428 Mass. 446, 449-450 (1998) (evidence insufficient to require provocation instruction where victim argued and straggled with defendant and even threw punches at him; sufficient time for defendant to have “cooled off” before he shot victim); Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 28-29 (1976) (no provocation instruction warranted where victim swore and threw glass of beer at defendant; threat from thrown glass had passed before defendant struck victim).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Jiles
Mass. · 1998 · confidence medium
Cf. Commonwealth v. Martinez, 425 Mass. 382, 396 (1997) (prior consistent statement of witness admissible only to show that witness’s in court testimony was not product of asserted inducement); Commonwealth v. Sullivan, 410 Mass. 521, 527 (1991), citing Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 26-27 (1976) (same).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Worcester
Mass. App. Ct. · 1998 · confidence medium
The general rule “is that a witness’s prior consistent statement is inadmissible, even where a prior inconsistent statement of the witness has been admitted.” Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 26 (1976).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Kindell
Mass. App. Ct. · 1998 · confidence medium
Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 26 (1976).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Seabrooks
Mass. · 1997 · confidence medium
“Insults and quarreling alone cannot provide a reasonable provocation.” Commonwealth v. Callahan, 401 Mass. 627, 632 (1988), quoting Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 28 (1976).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Martinez (2×)
Mass. · 1997 · confidence medium
On direct examination, Bey stated that it was his realization that Godin would be testifying against him at his own trial that convinced him to accept the Commonwealth’s offer to allow a guilty plea to second degree murder and possession of the shotgun. “[A] witness’s prior consistent statement is inadmissible, even where a prior inconsistent statement of the witness has been admitted.” Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 26 (1976).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Fryar
Mass. · 1997 · confidence medium
See Commonwealth v. Kater, 409 Mass. 433, 442 (1991); Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 26-27 (1976).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Bart B.
Mass. · 1997 · confidence medium
See Commonwealth v. Kater, 409 Mass. 433, 448 (1991); Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 26 (1976).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Almeida
Mass. App. Ct. · 1997 · confidence medium
As an exception to this general rule, however, a witness’s prior consistent statement is admissible where a claim is made that the witness’s in-court statement is of recent contrivance or is the product of particular inducements or bias.” Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 26-27 (1976) (citations omitted).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Henry
Mass. App. Ct. · 1994 · confidence medium
The doctrine of rehabilitative testimony allows defense counsel to recall a witness (or to introduce prior consistent statements by other means) only if there is a suggestion of “recent contrivance.” See Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 26-28 (1976); Commonwealth v. Andrews, 403 Mass. 441, 455 (1988); Commonwealth v. Brookins, 416 Mass. 97, 102-103 (1993).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Smith
Mass. App. Ct. · 1994 · confidence medium
See Commonwealth v. Curry, 368 Mass. 195, 202 (1975); Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 24-25 (1976); Commonwealth v. Longo, 402 Mass. 482, 483 (1988); Commonwealth v. Fickett, 403 Mass. 194 , 200 n.5 (1988); Commonwealth v. Souza, 34 Mass. App. Ct. 436 , 438 n.2 (1993); Commonwealth v. Gilliard, 36 Mass. App. Ct. 183, 191 (1994).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Curtis
Mass. · 1994 · confidence medium
See Commonwealth v. Parker, 402 Mass. 333, 344-345 (1988) (allegation of two blows struck by seventy-nine year old handicapped victim insufficient); Commonwealth v. Garabedian, 399 Mass. 304, 313-314 (1987) (scratches to face of male attacker by woman victim); Commonwealth v. Brown, 387 Mass. 220, 227 (1982) (evidence that victim choked husband with shirt insufficient, especially considering husband stabbed wife twenty-seven times); Commonwealth v. Walden, 380 Mass. 724, 726 (1980) (several blows by octogenarian victim and scratches from second victim insufficient to provoke stabbing and stran…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Sullivan
Mass. · 1991 · confidence medium
As an exception to this general rule, however, a witness’s prior consistent statement is admissible where a claim is made that the witness’s in-court testimony. . . is the product of particular inducements .... [Sjuch a prior consistent statement is admissible only to show that the witness’s in-court testimony is not a product of the asserted inducement.” Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 26-27 (1976) (citations omitted).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Troila
Mass. · 1991 · confidence medium
“Voluntary manslaughter is ‘a killing from a sudden transport of passion or heat of blood, upon a reasonable provocation and without malice, or upon sudden combat.’ ” Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 28 (1976), quoting Commonwealth v. Soaris, 275 Mass. 291, 299 (1931).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Kater
Mass. · 1991 · confidence medium
See Mayfield, supra at 629 ; Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 26-27 (1976).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Carrion (2×)
Mass. · 1990 · confidence medium
“Insults or quarrelling alone cannot provide a reasonable provocation.” Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 28 (1976).
examined Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Healey (3×) also: Cited "see", Cited "see, e.g."
Mass. App. Ct. · 1989 · confidence medium
Commonwealth v. Jenkins, 10 Gray 485 , 488-489 (1858).” Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 26 (1976).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Andrews (2×) also: Cited "see"
Mass. · 1988 · confidence medium
And to some extent ... as to whether there was any contest as to what she had said ... or what occurred at any point in time.” *455 In Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 26-27 (1976), we stated the rule applicable as follows: “[A] witness’s prior consistent statement is admissible where a claim is made that the witness’s in-court statement is of recent contrivance or is the product of particular inducements or bias. . . .
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Callahan
Mass. · 1988 · confidence medium
“Voluntary manslaughter is ‘a killing from a sudden transport of passion or heat of blood, upon a reasonable provocation and without malice, or upon sudden combat.’” Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 28 (1976), quoting Commonwealth v. Soaris, 275 Mass. 291,299 (1931).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Rogers v. Carver
D. Mass. · 1986 · confidence medium
“Voluntary manslaughter is a killing from a sudden transport of passion or heat of blood, upon a reasonable provocation and without malice, or upon sudden combat.” Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 28 , 345 N.E.2d 690, 694 (1976) (quoting Commonwealth v. Soaris, 275 Mass. 291, 299 , 175 N.E. 491, 494 (1921)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Mayfield (2×)
Mass. · 1986 · confidence medium
Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 26 (1976).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Griffin
Mass. App. Ct. · 1985 · confidence medium
Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 29 (1976).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Kirby (2×) also: Cited "see"
Mass. App. Ct. · 1984 · confidence medium
For the general proposition, see Commonwealth v. Jenkins, 10 Gray 485 , 489 (1858); Commonwealth v. Tucker, 189 Mass. 457, 483-485 (1905); Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 26-27 (1976); McCormick, Evidence § 251, at 744-748 (3d ed. 1984).Thedefense,however,made no such offer.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. DiLego (2×) also: Cited "see"
Mass. · 1982 · confidence medium
See Commonwealth v. Saarela, 376 Mass. 720, 722-723 (1978); Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 26-27 (1976).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Bertrand
Mass. · 1982 · confidence medium
Bertrand and Rimmer did exchange words before the incident, but “ [ijnsults or quarreling alone cannot provide a reasonable provocation.” Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 28 (1976), and cases cited.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Latimore
Mass. · 1979 · confidence medium
See Commonwealth v. Greene, 372 Mass. 517, 521-522 (1977); Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 28-29 (1976).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Saarela
Mass. · 1978 · confidence medium
Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 26-27 (1976), and cases cited.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Burke
Mass. · 1978 · confidence medium
In this case, however, the evidence would not have supported a finding that the defendant acted "from a sudden transport of passion or heat of blood, upon a reasonable provocation and without malice.” Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 28 (1976), and cases cited, quoting from Commonwealth v. Soaris, 275 Mass. 291, 299 (1931).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Harris
Mass. · 1978 · confidence medium
Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 28 (1976), and cases cited.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Marini
Mass. · 1978 · confidence medium
The defense argues that the Commonwealth in cross-examining Mrs. Ratliff had attacked her testimony about the meeting of August 13 on grounds amounting to bias and recent contrivance, and that the defense was therefore entitled to prove she had made prior consistent statements to counsel (see Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 26-28 [1976]), and should have been allowed to make the proof in greater detail.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Watkins
Mass. · 1977 · confidence medium
Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 28 (1976). 4.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. LeBlanc
Mass. · 1977 · confidence medium
The test to be applied in deciding whether such instructions were necessary is “where any view of the evidence will permit a finding that the offence is manslaughter and not murder.” Commonwealth v. Zu-koski, 370 Mass. 23, 28 (1976), quoting from Commonwealth v. LePage, 352 Mass. 403, 419 (1967).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Borodine
Mass. · 1976 · confidence medium
Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 28-29 (1976).
cited Cited "see" Commonwealth v. McBrown
Mass. App. Ct. · 2008 · signal: see · confidence high
See Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 27 (1976); Commonwealth v. Bruce, 61 Mass. App. Ct. 474, 481-482 (2004).
discussed Cited "see" Commonwealth v. Brum
Mass. · 2004 · signal: see · confidence high
See Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 29 (1976) (any threat from glass victim threw passed after defendant struck victim and knocked her to ground).
discussed Cited "see" Commonwealth v. Thomas
Mass. · 2003 · signal: see · confidence high
See Commonwealth v. Zukoski, 370 Mass. 23, 26-27 (1976); Commonwealth v. Worcester, 44 Mass. App. Ct. 258, 260-261 (1998) (prior consistent statement admissible to rebut claim that witness’s in-court testimony was product of particular inducements or bias or was recent contrivance).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
Commonwealth vs. John B. Zukoski
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.
Apr 2, 1976.
345 N.E.2d 690
1976 Mass. LEXIS 941
Susan J. Baronoff for the defendant., Robert J. O’Sullivan, Assistant District Attorney, for the Commonwealth.
Hennessey, Reardon, Braucher, Kaplan, Wilkins.
Cited by 77 opinions  |  Published
Wilkins, J.

The defendant appeals under G. L. c. 278, §§ 33A-33G, from a conviction of murder in the second degree. The victim, a woman in her middle forties, was kicked to death on South Lawrence Common one night in early September, 1970. That night the defendant admitted, first to an acquaintance and then to the police, that he had been with the woman but claimed that they had been “jumped” by three people he could not identify. The next afternoon, after questioning, the defendant changed his story and told the police that he had punched the victim when she threw a glass at him, admitting that he kicked her more than once after she fell to the ground. At his trial, giving a third version of the events of that night, the defendant testified that he struck the victim accidentally when he swung at a glass which she threw at him; that she fell when he hit her; and that a companion, one Smith, thereafter repeatedly kicked the woman, while the defendant tried to stop him.

Additional facts involved with the various issues argued by the defendant will be set forth as those points are considered. There was no error.

1. The defendant asserts that the judge should have instructed the jury that they could find the defendant guilty of the lesser included offense of assault and battery. The defendant relies on his testimony at trial that the victim[*25] threw a glass at him; that he swung at the glass and not at her, but hit her in the face; and that he did not thereafter touch her. The defendant contends that, if the jury believed this testimony, they could have found him guilty of no more than- assault and battery and that the judge should have given them the opportunity to do so. An instruction on assault and battery must be given if the evidence would warrant a finding that a defendant charged with murder was guilty of that lesser included offense. Commonwealth v. Curry, 368 Mass. 195, 203 (1975). See Commonwealth v. Hogg, 365 Mass. 290, 295 (1974); Commonwealth v. McKay, 363 Mass. 220, 228 (1973).

The evidence on which the defendant relies does not support his claim that assault and battery was a permissible jury finding. The defendant does not claim that there was evidence that he hit the victim intentionally when he struck at the glass she threw at him. He does suggest, however, that his act of swinging at the glass and hitting the victim could have been found to be an assault and battery as “the intentional doing of a wanton or grossly negligent act causing personal injury to another.” Commonwealth v. McCan, 277 Mass. 199, 203 (1931). Commonwealth v. Campbell, 352 Mass. 387, 397 (1967). The act of swinging in apparent self-defense at the glass which was thrown at him does not constitute wanton or reckless conduct. There was no “high degree of likelihood that substantial harm [would] result to another” from the defendant’s conduct. Commonwealth v. Welansky, 316 Mass. 383, 399 (1944). See Commonwealth v. McCauley, 355 Mass. 554, 560 (1969); Commonwealth v. Campbell, 352 Mass. 387, 397 (1967). If the jury had believed the defendant’s testimony, the only verdict they could have returned, even as to assault and battery, was a verdict of not guilty. Commonwealth v. Curry, 368 Mass. 195, 203 (1975).

2. The defendant next claims that the judge should have instructed the jury that the defendant could not be found guilty on the basis of any acts the defendant attributed to Smith, unless they found “that the defendant was acting with a common criminal purpose, and that... [Smith’s[*26] act] was a natural or necessary consequence of the common criminal purpose.”

The defendant contends that the jury should have had such an instruction to guard against their concluding that the defendant was responsible for Smith’s kicking of the victim. If the jury believed the defendant’s account of the incident, there was no logical basis for them to assume that the defendant was criminally responsible for Smith’s acts. Indeed, the defendant testified that he tried unsuccessfully to stop Smith from kicking the victim. The prosecution did not attempt to prove a joint enterprise or to argue that the jury could believe the defendant’s story and still convict him. A reasonable jury would not have found the defendant guilty on the theory, which was not suggested to them, that the defendant was responsible for what he testified Smith did. In these circumstances, a warning instruction concerning joint enterprise was not required. Cf. Commonwealth v. Benders, 361 Mass. 704, 707-708 (1972), where the issue of joint venture was the principal contested issue and the charge did not present clearly the distinction between participation and mere presence.

3. The defendant next argues that certain excluded evidence was admissible to rebut any implication that his testimony that Smith killed the victim was recently contrived. The defendant offered the testimony of two attorneys that several days after his arrest he had named a companion as the one who had killed the victim. The judge properly excluded the evidence.

The long standing, general rule in this Commonwealth is that a witness’s prior consistent statement is inadmissible, even where a prior inconsistent statement of the witness has been admitted. Commonwealth v. Tucker, 189 Mass. 457, 479-485 (1905). Commonwealth v. Jenkins, 10 Gray 485, 488-489 (1858). See KB. Hughes, Evidence § 236 (1961). As an exception to this general rule, however, a witness’s prior consistent statement is admissible where a claim is made that the witness’s in-court statement is of recent contrivance or is the product of particular in[*27] ducements or bias. Commonwealth v. Carroll, 360 Mass. 580, 588-589 (1971). Commonwealth v. Corcoran, 252 Mass. 465, 487-488 (1925). Walsh v. Wyman Lunch Co., 244 Mass. 407, 409-410 (1923). Commonwealth v. Retkovitz, 222 Mass. 245, 249-250 (1915). See Commonwealth v. Jenkins, supra at 489-490. Unless admissible on some other ground to prove the truth of the facts asserted, such a prior consistent statement is admissible only to show that the witness’s in-court testimony is not the product of the asserted. inducement or bias or is not recently contrived as claimed. Commonwealth v. Carroll, supra at 588. The trial judge has a range of discretion in determining whether a suggestion of recent contrivance exists in the circumstances. Compare Commonwealth v. Caine, 366 Mass. 366, 368 (1974), Commonwealth v. Pickles, 364 Mass. 395, 401 (1973), Commonwealth v. Carroll, 360 Mass. 580, 588 (1971), and Commonwealth v. Heffernan, 350 Mass. 48, 51-52, cert. denied, 384 U.S. 960 (1966) (suggestion of recent contrivance), with Boutillette v. Robbins, 338 Mass. 195, 197-198 (1958), Commonwealth v. Giacomazza, 311 Mass. 456, 467 (1942), Ouellette v. Chapman, 284 Mass. 363, 365 (1933), and Commonwealth v. Tucker, supra at 484-485 (no suggestion of recent contrivance or prior concealment). However, the mere admission of a prior inconsistent statement does not justify a conclusion that a claim of recent contrivance is inherent in the circumstances. Wilson v. Jeffrey, 328 Mass. 192, 194-195 (1951) (prior consistent statement improperly admitted).

Here the defendant wished to show that his testimony that Smith killed the victim was consistent with his statement to attorneys who visited him several days following his arrest. At this time in the trial, two other, inconsistent, statements of the defendant were already in evidence: the defendant’s first statement to the police that he and the victim had been “jumped” by three unknown assailants and the defendant’s confession. The question of when the defendant first adopted his third explanation of the events of that night was never in issue, expressly or impliedly. The prosecutor established by cross-examination of the[*28] defendant that the defendant’s testimony was inconsistent with his earlier statements, but he did not raise the question of when, following his earlier statements, the defendant adopted his final explanation. Because the statement to the attorneys was not made prior to the other statements, the exception to the general rule against the admission of prior consistent statements has no application here.

4. The judge was correct in declining to instruct the jury that voluntary manslaughter was a possible verdict. The defendant argues that the facts shown in his written confession to the police permitted a finding of voluntary manslaughter and that an instruction on manslaughter should have been given. Of course, consistent with what we said earlier with respect to assault and battery as a lesser included offense, the jury should be instructed on manslaughter “where any view of the evidence will permit a finding that the offence is manslaughter and not murder.” Commonwealth v. LePage, 352 Mass. 403, 419 (1967). Commonwealth v. Vanderpool, 367 Mass. 743, 745-746 (1975), and cases cited.

Voluntary manslaughter is “a killing from a sudden transport of passion or heat of blood, upon a reasonable provocation and without malice, or upon sudden combat.” Commonwealth v. Soaris, 275 Mass. 291, 299 (1931). Commonwealth v. Caine, 366 Mass. 366, 375 (1974). Insults or quarreling alone cannot provide a reasonable provocation. Commonwealth v. Vanderpool, supra at 746-747. Commonwealth v. Hartford, 346 Mass. 482, 491 (1963).

With these principles in mind, we consider the defendant’s statement in more detail to see whether voluntary manslaughter was a permissible jury conclusion. His statement to the police was that he had met the victim in a café and that, when he left the café, she followed him into the common, carrying a glass of beer. “I asked her if she was married and she said yes and I asked her if she had any kids and she said six, and I said don’t you think you ought to be home with them, and then she threw the glass at me. I told her she was crazy and I punched her in the face and she started to bleed, and she fell to the ground. She then[*29] started to call me a sex maniac, and I blew up and while she [was] still on the ground I kicked her I don’t know how many times____” The defendant testified that he was under the influence of alcohol and LSD at the time and that the victim swore at him as she threw the glass at him from a distance of two or three feet.

The evidence does not show that the twenty-three year old defendant had any reasonable provocation for kicking the forty-four year old victim as she lay on the ground. Any threat from the thrown glass had passed when the defendant struck the victim and knocked her to the ground. There was no other provocation. No charge to the jury on voluntary manslaughter was required. Commonwealth v. Vanderpool, 367 Mass. 743, 747 (1975).

5. The defendant challenges the judge’s denial of his motion to suppress his oral and written statements. The defendant argues that the statements were involuntary, made without a valid waiver of Miranda rights, and obtained in violation of his rights under G. L. c. 276, § 33A (concerning his right to the use of a telephone). The judge died before making findings and rulings on the motion to suppress. He heard extensive evidence before trial and further evidence on a voir dire during trial.

We have reviewed all of the evidence. Repetition of it here would not add to our jurisprudence. The judge’s conclusion that the statements were admissible was plainly warranted on the evidence. The defendant was given Miranda warnings repeatedly. He was not denied food or drink during the period he was with the police before he confessed. No pressure was put on him by the police. The evidence warranted findings that the oral and written confessions and the waiver of his Miranda rights were voluntary and knowing.

Although the record does not clearly show that the defendant was advised promptly of all the purposes for which he had a statutory right to use a telephone when he arrived at the police station under arrest (G. L. c. 276, § 33A), he was given timely opportunity to use the telephone. There was evidence that he used the telephone in[*30] the police station before he confessed and before he was in custody; that later, when he arrived at the police station under arrest, he was told he could telephone anyone he wished; and that he called someone from the police station before his written confession was taken down. His wife’s and his own testimony indicate that the defendant was allowed to use the telephone within about one hour of his arrival at the police station following his oral confession which led to his arrest. Any violation of the defendant’s statutory rights was not so substantial that his written confession should be suppressed. Commonwealth v. Daniels, 366 Mass. 601, 610 (1975).

6. We decline to change our previously expressed views concerning a claim by a defendant that he was denied his constitutional rights because paupers were excluded from the jury. Commonwealth v. Stone, 366 Mass. 506, 509-510 (1974). The defendant had the burden of proof and offered no evidence that paupers were excluded from the juries which indicted him or tried him. The conclusions expressed by a panel of Federal District Court judges to the Judicial Council of the First Circuit are contrary to the defendant’s assertion that paupers have been excluded from juries in eastern Massachusetts. See Report of the District Court Panel on Jury Selection in the District of Massachusetts, 58 F.R.D. 501, 504-505 (1973).

7. We have performed our obligation under G. L. c. 278, § 33E, and find no reason to order a new trial or to direct the entry of a verdict of a lesser degree of guilt.

Judgment affirmed.