Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 265, § 15 (2026)

Assault; intent to murder or maim; penalty

✓ current as of July 2026
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Section 15. Whoever assaults another with intent to commit murder, or to maim or disfigure his person in any way described in the preceding section, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than ten years or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars and imprisonment in jail for not more than two and one half years.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 69 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1971–2025 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Henson, 476 N.E.2d 947 (Mass. 1985).
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Commonwealth v. Henson, 476 N.E.2d 947 (Mass. 1985). · cites it 2× “murder," while armed with a dangerous weapon), and G.L.c. 265, § 15 ("assaults another with intent to commit murder").”
Commonwealth v. Appleby, 402 N.E.2d 1051 (Mass. 1980). · cites it 2× “265, § 14 (mayhem: "with malicious intent to maim or disfigure" and "by such assault disfigures") and G.L.c. 265, § 15 (assault with intent to murder or maim); cf.”
Commonwealth v. Franchino, 810 N.E.2d 1251 (Mass. App. Ct. 2004). · cites it 3× “The defendant was convicted by a Superior Court jury of assault with intent to maim, G. L. c. 265, § 15, and assault and battery, G.”
Commonwealth v. Harris, 505 N.E.2d 221 (Mass. App. Ct. 1987). · cites it 8× “” 5 The judge, to whom the slips were presumably shown, raised no question with the foreman as to whether the jury had found the defendant guilty of simple assault with intent to murder (G. L. c. 265, § 15) or armed assault with intent to murder (G.”
Commonwealth v. Hebert, 368 N.E.2d 1204 (Mass. 1977). · cites it 2× “In the Demboski case we held that a defendant indicted for assault with intent to murder under G.L.c. 265, § 15, could be convicted of the lesser included crime of assault with intent to kill under G.”
Commonwealth v. Cassidy, 96 N.E.3d 691 (Mass. 2018). “" 6 As discussed, the defendant also was charged with assault by means of a dangerous weapon (a metal folding chair), G. L. c. 265, § 15 ( b ) ; assault and battery, G.”
Commonwealth v. Moran, 906 N.E.2d 343 (Mass. 2009). “265, § 15A (b); assault with a dangerous weapon, G. L. c. 265, § 15 (b) (two indictments); malicious destruction of property over $250, G.”
Commonwealth v. Williams, 926 N.E.2d 1162 (Mass. 2010). “The statutory maximum for assault with intent to murder is ten years, see G. L. c. 265, § 15, and the judge sentenced the defendant to from ten years to ten years and one day.”
Commonwealth v. Ennis, 497 N.E.2d 950 (Mass. 1986). · cites it 2× “265, § 18 ( b ), and assault with intent to murder, G.L.c. 265, § 15 (1984 ed.). [7] Neither the defendant nor the Commonwealth appears to have requested particular jury instructions at the close of the evidence.”
Commonwealth v. Nardone, 546 N.E.2d 359 (Mass. 1989). “The error in this case can be traced to the unusual nature of the element differentiating assault with intent to murder, G. L. c. 265, § 15, and assault with intent to kill, G.”
Commonwealth v. Leslie, 382 N.E.2d 1072 (Mass. 1978). · cites it 2× “Leslie on June 23, 1975, was acquitted by a jury of the first two charges, and convicted of the others; the assault and battery conviction, however, was dismissed by the trial judge as "duplicitous.”
Commonwealth v. Robinson, 529 N.E.2d 156 (Mass. App. Ct. 1988). · cites it 3× “He was convicted bn two indictments: indictment 111069, charging assault with intent to maim (G. L. c. 265, § 15), and indictment 111070, charging assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon (G.”
Show all 69 citing cases →
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 265, § 15(A)(1) — 1 case
Commonwealth v. Turavani, 696 N.E.2d 961 (Mass. App. Ct. 1998).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 265, § 15(A)(b) — 1 case
Denver v. Markel Corp. (D. Mass. 2024).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 265, § 15(A)(c)(i) — 1 case
Denver v. Markel Corp. (D. Mass. 2024).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 265, § 15(b) — 1 case
Commonwealth v. Cotto, 752 N.E.2d 768 (Mass. App. Ct. 2001).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 265, § 15(h) — 1 case
Commonwealth v. Brown, 846 N.E.2d 782 (Mass. App. Ct. 2006).
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