Opinion ID: 204016
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Detective Gavin's testimony

Text: Clarke first argues that the Commonwealth improperly used his post- Miranda silence during its direct examination of Detective Donna Gavin. Gavin testified that when she interviewed Clarke, following his arrest, Clarke told her that he had never seen the victim before and that he had never brought any female guest to 22 Skyview Lane. Gavin asked Clarke how it was, then, that the victim could describe the home located at 22 Skyview Lane. But, before Gavin could explain to the jury Clarke's answer to that question, the court sustained defense counsel's objection because it was in response to that question that Clarke invoked his right to remain silent. Gavin then testified simply that the interview had ended shortly thereafter. The Massachusetts Appeals Court rejected Clarke's claim that Detective Gavin's direct testimony amounted to improper use of his invoking his right to remain silent at the post-arrest interview because the trial court sustained the objection and Gavin never answered the question. See Clarke, 2003 WL 22881000, at . That determination was not contrary to, nor an unreasonable application of, clearly established Supreme Court precedent. See Greer v. Miller, 483 U.S. 756, 763-65, 107 S.Ct. 3102, 97 L.Ed.2d 618 (1987).