Opinion ID: 2637091
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: validity of prosecution's c.a.r. 4.1 certification

Text: As a preliminary matter, we consider Defendant's contention that the prosecution is not entitled to maintain this interlocutory appeal. C.A.R. 4.1 permits the state to file an interlocutory appeal in this court from a district court order suppressing statements made by the defendant on the ground that they were obtained in violation of Miranda. See, e.g., People v. Thiret, 685 P.2d 193 (Colo. 1984). However, the appeal must not be taken for purposes of delay and the evidence must be a substantial part of the proof of the charges pending against the defendant. See C.A.R. 4.1(a); People v. Garner, 736 P.2d 413, 414 (Colo.1987) (Because the suppressed statements are not a substantial part of the prosecution's proof, the trial court's ruling does not fall within that limited category of cases that we review on interlocutory appeal.). We will refuse to entertain an interlocutory appeal under C.A.R. 4.1 where the prosecution's certification is in the form, and contains the words, required by C.A.R. 4.1(a), but the prosecution's brief and the record do not support this certification. Garner, 736 P.2d at 413; see also People v. Valdez, 621 P.2d 332, 333 (Colo.1981). Here, however, it is clear that the statements suppressed by the district court are a substantial part of the proof against Defendant. For instance, count VIII of the indictment alleges that Defendant conspired with Grimes to murder the Dutchers. During the interview, Defendant told investigators the same account of his and Grimes's whereabouts the night of the murders that Grimes had told them before recanting and confessing to the murder of Anthony Dutcher. For purposes of our review, we will assume, without deciding that Defendant's account of events is false. [4] Evidence that Defendant and Grimes jointly fabricated an alibi would be a substantial part of the proof of the charge of conspiracy to commit murder. Moreover, whether true or false, the videotaped confession is probative of Defendant's credibility. See People v. Dist. Court, 785 P.2d 141, 144 (Colo.1990) (holding that statements suppressed by the trial court constitute a substantial part of the proof of the charges pending against the defendant because the credibility of the victims and the defendant will be of central importance to the trier of fact). This appeal is therefore proper under C.A.R. 4.1.