Opinion ID: 1700705
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Refusal of the Trial Court to Suppress Appellant's Confession.

Text: Appellant made a confession to Sheriff Hubbard in the presence of the county attorney and the Pontotoc chief of police. He testified at the hearing on the motion to suppress the confession that he was threatened by the sheriff as well as another officer and that he repeated what the sheriff suggested about the homicide on March 3, 1976, because he feared what might happen to him, if he refused. Appellant contends that under Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966), and Escobedo v. Illinois, 378 U.S. 478, 84 S.Ct. 1758, 12 L.Ed.2d 977 (1964), the court committed error in not suppressing the confession. Sheriff Hubbard testified that he advised appellant of his constitutional rights, that appellant was not threatened or coerced, and that the confession was freely and voluntarily given. His testimony was corroborated by the county attorney and chief of police who were the only other persons present. The trial court found from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that there were no threats or promises made to defendant and that he received full and adequate Miranda warnings. In such a situation, the trial court must determine the truth of the matter and this Court will not disturb those findings unless they appear to be contrary to the evidence. Burrill v. State, 328 So.2d 334 (Miss. 1976); Ivey v. State, 246 Miss. 117, 149 So.2d 520 (1963). The legal determination made by the trial court that appellant's confession was freely and voluntarily given is supported by the weight of credible evidence.