Opinion ID: 1667082
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Whether the trial court erred in denying Manix's motion to suppress Manix's pretrial statements?

Text: ¶ 37. Manix argues that law enforcement officials coerced him into admitting the charged crime, and because of such, the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress the confession. Manix contends that he was threatened with physical harm from former Ocean Springs police officer, Don Bourgeois, if he failed to state his involvement in the murder of Heather Hampton. ¶ 38. This Court has held that absent a knowing and intelligent waiver of rights, statements made by a suspect while under `custodial interrogation' are inadmissible at trial where prior to making the statements, the suspect was not Miranda warned. Tolbert v. State, 511 So.2d 1368, 1374 (Miss.1987) (citing Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 444-45, 478-79, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 1612, 1630, 16 L.Ed.2d 694, 706-07, 726 (1966)). ¶ 39. The general rule is that to be admissible, a confession must have been given voluntarily and not given because of promises, threats or inducements. Dancer v. State, 721 So.2d 583, 587 (Miss.1998); Morgan v. State, 681 So.2d 82, 86 (Miss.1996); Chase v. State, 645 So.2d 829, 838-39 (Miss.1994). The prosecution shoulders the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the confession was voluntary. Morgan, 681 So.2d at 86 (citing Haymer v. State, 613 So.2d 837, 839 (Miss.1993)). This burden is met and a prima facie case is made by testimony of an officer, or other persons having knowledge of the facts, that the confession was voluntarily made without threats, coercion, or offer of reward. Morgan, 681 So.2d at 87 (quoting Chase, 645 So.2d at 838) (quoting Cox v. State, 586 So.2d 761, 763 (Miss.1991)). The circuit court sits as a fact finder when determining voluntariness of a confession, and its determination will not be reversed unless manifestly wrong. Horne v. State, 825 So.2d 627, 639 (Miss.2002) (citing Blue v. State, 674 So.2d 1184, 1204 (Miss.1996)). ¶ 40. The converse of the general rule is true as well. If a confession is the result of threat, inducements or promises  however slight  it is not voluntary. Dunn v. State, 547 So.2d 42, 45 (Miss.1989); Layne v. State, 542 So.2d 237, 240 (Miss.1989); Agee v. State, 185 So.2d 671, 674 (Miss.1966). Further, if it is not voluntary, then the confession is inadmissible under the constitutional standards. ¶ 41. At the suppression hearing, Manix testified on direct examination that Officer Bourgeois informed him that Bourgeois was an expert in martial arts and that he could do severe damage to those who fell into his disfavor. According to Manix, Bourgeois told him that he could do a lot of damage, break bones. On cross-examination it was established that Manix signed a Miranda warning form, which included the statement that no threats had been made against him. He further asserted that Bourgeois's graphic depiction of how he could harm another human being was the impetus of his waiver of his rights to silence and counsel. During the trial, the State introduced a videotape of Manix's confession (as Exhibit S-15) which was admitted over defense objections. ¶ 42. During the suppression hearing, the trial court heard testimony of several witnesses including Officer Bourgeois. The court received four signed waiver of rights forms, audio, transcribed, and videotaped statements. Having heard and received this evidence, the trial court concluded that the defendant's motion to suppress was without merit. The order of the trial court denying the motion, specifically found that the State have proved the admissibility of the confession beyond a reasonable doubt. The record reveals no basis to conclude that the decision was manifestly wrong. We hold that the State met its burden and made a prima facie case by offering the testimony of Officer Bourgeois that the confession was voluntarily made without threats, coercion, or offer of reward. It follows that the trial court did not err in admitting Manix's pre-trial confession.