Opinion ID: 2174363
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Introduction of Unredacted Confessions of Co-Defendants

Text: Prior to trial, Murphy's counsel moved for separate trials or, in the alternative, redaction of Sprowls' and Weathers' confessions. The trial court denied both motions. Although neither Sprowls nor Weathers testified during the guilt phase, their confessions were introduced though the testimony of Sheriff Edlin. Both Weathers' and Sprowls' confessions identified Murphy as one of the participants in the crimes against Milby. Murphy did not make any statements or admit to any participation in the crimes. The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Section 11 of the Kentucky Constitution guarantee a defendant the right of confrontation. In Bruton v. United States, 391 U.S. 123, 88 S.Ct. 1620, 20 L.Ed.2d 476 (1968), the United States Supreme Court held that a confession by a defendant which inculpates a non-confessing codefendant is inadmissible in a joint trial unless the confessing defendant elects to testify and is thus available for cross-examination as to the confession. There are three recognized exceptions to the Bruton rule. Gabow v. Commonwealth, 34 S.W.3d 63 (2000). A confession of a non-testifying defendant may be admissible at the trial of a co-defendant if: (1) the nontestifying defendant's confession is redacted so as to delete any reference to the nonconfessing codefendant. Gray v. Maryland, 523 U.S. 185, 118 S.Ct. 1151, 140 L.Ed.2d 294 (1998); Richardson v. Marsh, 481 U.S. 200, 107 S.Ct. 1702, 95 L.Ed.2d 176 (1987); see also Cosby v. Commonwealth, Ky., 776 S.W.2d 367 (1989), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 1063, 110 S.Ct. 880, 107 L.Ed.2d 963 (1990), overruled on other grounds, St. Clair v. Roark, Ky., 10 S.W.3d 482 (1999); (2) the confession falls within a firmly rooted exception to the hearsay rule. Ohio v. Roberts, 448 U.S. 56, 100 S.Ct. 2531, 65 L.Ed.2d 597 (1980); or (3) the confession possesses particularized guarantees of trustworthiness which render the statement at least as reliable as a firmly rooted exception to the hearsay rule. Id.; Idaho v. Wright, 497 U.S. 805, 110 S.Ct. 3139, 111 L.Ed.2d 638 (1990). Since Sheriff Edlin testified as to Sprowls' and Weathers' confessions, there was no redaction, and thus the first exception obviously has no application in this case. Moreover, while Weathers' and Sprowls' confessions may fall under the hearsay exception for declarations against penal interest, KRE 804(b)(3), such exception has yet to be declared firmly rooted. Gabow, supra . Finally, we cannot conclude that the confessions have sufficient particularized guarantees of trustworthiness so as to render them admissible. Notwithstanding the fact that Weathers' and Sprowls' confessions were self-inculpatory, they were not consistent with regard to Murphy's participation, i.e., they differed as to whether Murphy had a knife and whether he was involved in the planning of the crime. The Commonwealth asserts that since Sheriff Edlin testified only to the substance of Sprowls' and Weathers' confessions, the actual confessions were not technically introduced at trial. Thus, according to the Commonwealth, the confrontation clause was not violated since Sheriff Edlin was available for cross-examination. This argument completely misses the mark. Introducing a written or taped copy of a confession or having a witness testify to its contents is a distinction without a difference. In fact, the only distinction may be that it prevented any type of redaction of the confessions. The cross-examination of Sheriff Edlin afforded Murphy no protection against the confessions which directly implicated him. The Commonwealth's reliance on the concept of interlocking confessions is also misplaced. The concept of interlocking confessions refers to a factual context in which both codefendants have confessed and inculpated the other. Parker v. Randolph, 442 U.S. 62, 99 S.Ct. 2132, 60 L.Ed.2d 713 (1979); see also Lee v. Illinois, 476 U.S. 530, 106 S.Ct. 2056, 90 L.Ed.2d 514 (1986). Murphy did not make any statements. Thus, there can be no interlocking confessions with regard to Murphy. The trial court was required to either grant Murphy's motion for a separate trial or redact the confessions of Sprowls and Weathers so as to exclude any reference to Murphy. The decision to permit the introduction of Weathers' and Sprowls' confessions, albeit through the testimony of Sheriff Edlin, violated Murphy's rights under the Confrontation Clause and warrants reversal of his conviction and a new trial.