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Chapter 6 Case Studies

Case Study 1

Police were dispatched to an apartment “to assist an elderly woman who was hurt.” When they arrived, they found an elderly woman in the kitchen lying in a pool of blood. They check her pulse. She was dead. They immediately began a sweep of the apartment. With their guns drawn, they searched each room for other victims or suspects. Officer Compton found the deceased woman’s son Tom in a bedroom, lying face down on the floor behind the bed. He was covered in blood and holding a knife that appeared to be impaled in his armpit. Compton ordered Tom to drop the knife which he did and then asked him, “What happened here?” Tom responded, “I killed my mother. She had it coming.” Tom was charged with murder. He moved to suppress his statement under the Miranda rule.

Questions

1. Did Officer Compton’s question “what happened here?” constitute a custodial interrogation?

Case Study 2

Thelma Stump’s home was burglarized last night. The thief had good taste. Only her finest jewelry was taken. Sticky-Fingered Sam had been in Thelma’s home, washing her windows and doing odd jobs several days before the burglary. Acting on a hunch that Sam was responsible, police went to his apartment, informed him of the burglary, and asked for permission to come in and talk. Sam replied that he knew nothing about the burglary and had nothing to say. Several hours later the police returned and falsely told Sam that his image had been captured on Thelma Stump’s video surveillance camera on the night of the burglary and that they had a warrant for his arrest. Sam went silent for a few minutes and then said: “Okay! I did it. I don’t know why I did. Ms. Thelma’s jewelry is just so beautiful. I just couldn’t help myself.”  Sam’s lawyer has moved to suppress his confession.

Questions

1. Was Sam’s confession involuntary?

2. Was Sam’s confession subject to suppression under the Fourth Amendment exclusionary rule?

3. Was Sam’s unwarned confession subject to suppression under the Miranda rule?

Case Study 3

Harold Kamke was arrested for murder, transported to the police station, and taken to the interview room. Miranda warnings were administered. Kamke stated that he understood his rights and was willing to speak, but after answering two questions, he said: “I’m scared to talk to you without a lawyer. I’m going to get myself in worse trouble. I need a lawyer.” At this point, the questioning ceased and Kamke was taken to the county jail. The next morning, the same officers came to the jail, told Kamke they would like to speak to him, advised him of his Miranda rights, and asked him if he was willing to discuss the case. Kamke stated that he had changed his mind and that he no longer wanted a lawyer. He signed a written waiver and confessed. He has now moved to suppress his confession, claiming it was procured in violation of his Miranda rights.

Questions

1. Is Kamke’s confession admissible?

Case Study 4

A prosecutor with the district attorney’s office determined there was enough evidence to seek an indictment against Kyle Butler for the murder of Dorothy Flowers and convened a grand jury. The grand jury returned an indictment and a warrant was issued for Butler’s arrest. The police went to Butler’s home and informed him that he had been indicted for the murder of Dorothy Flowers, that they had a warrant for his arrest, and that they needed to ask him some questions. Butler seemed hesitant to discuss the case at first, but it slowly emerged over the next few hours that Flowers was Butler’s supervisor and that he was enraged at her for firing him. “She took everything from me,” Butler said. “I was determined to make her sorry.” Police continued to question Butler about the morning Flowers was found brutally murdered in her apartment. They asked Butler about his whereabouts. At first he said he was at the gym, but when pressed to provide the name of a witness who could verify his story, he admitted that he had been in Flowers’s neighborhood, having breakfast. The police pressed him further, and Butler finally blurted out. “I did it! OK. I killed the vile woman! She deserved it! She ruined my life, and I made her pay.” The officers then arrested Butler and read him his Miranda rights. Butler’s attorney has filed a suppression motion.

Questions

1. What is the constitutional basis for his motion?

2. Did police violate the Sixth Amendment when they questioned Butler about the murder without obtaining a waiver of his Sixth Amendment right to counsel?

3. Would it have been necessary for police to administer warnings and obtain a waiver had police interviewed Butler in home before he was indicted?

4. Butler’s confession cannot be used to prove the prosecution’s case at the trial. Can it be used for any purpose?

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