Appeals court weighs sufficiency of evidence in Bridgewater threat conviction

Corey Arder, representing Christopher Tartaglione, told the three‑judge panel that the conviction for threatening to commit a crime under Mass. Gen. Laws c.275 §2 should be overturned for insufficiency of evidence.

"Mr. Tartaglione backs away from the encounter and ultimately leaves the scene," Arder said (argument transcript). He urged the court that the crucial fourth element — that the defendant made the threat under circumstances that reasonably caused the victim to fear the defendant had both the intent and the ability to carry out the threat — was not proved.

Arder recounted the video and testimony: Tartaglione had…