Opinion ID: 2633125
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Miscommunication between the Parties

Text: Similar to Aguilar-Ramos, there were several instances of miscommunication between Detective Frederickson and Redgebol. The miscommunication took two forms: interruptions by Detective Frederickson of Redgebol and Abyei, and unresponsive and nonsensical answers by Redgebol.
The audio recording is replete with instances of Frederickson interrupting Redgebol and Abyei. Early in the interrogation, after Frederickson stated that Redgebol was under arrest for sexual assault, the officer twice interrupted Redgebol's off-topic responses: Frederickson: Yes, okay. You've been arrested for sexual assault, Sebet. Redgebol: [Redgebol speaks for a long time in Dinka] He says Yes, I'm sorry because I've been accused and I am sure that this thing . . . I . . . I've never done it . . .  Frederickson: [interrupting] Okay.    Frederickson: Yes, sir, and this is what I would like to get straightened out today. [Abyei translates and Redgebol starts speaking at length in Dinka] Frederickson: [interrupting] Wait, wait, wait. [laughs] one moment. Later, as Frederickson continued to try without success to explain to Redgebol the right to remain silent, the officer again interrupted Redgebol's response: Redgebol: He says, I will never keep quiet. I have been looking for somebody so that I talk to you for like two days ago, but I found nobody, so since you came [Frederickson started interrupting at this point and speaking over Abyei] I would like to talk to you. Next, the detective cut off Redgebol's response when Redgebol became confused regarding his right against self-incrimination: Frederickson: Well, I certainly want to hear your side of the story, Sebet. [translation done here. Redgebol begins to talk to Abyei before being interrupted by Frederickson] but  but  [interrupting Redgebol] I can't force you to talk. Frederickson again interrupted Redgebol when he replied nonsensically regarding his right to have an attorney present: Redgebol: He says, Yes, it's okay, that advocate can come and question . . .  Frederickson: [interrupting] He said what? Redgebol: The lawyer can come and question him. Frederickson: No, no, sir, it's me asking questions, not the lawyer. [translation] Do you understand what a lawyer is, Sebet? Finally, after Redgebol requested counsel, Detective Frederickson pressed Redgebol to confirm that he was in fact waiving his right to have counsel present. In doing so, Frederickson again spoke over Redgebol: Frederickson: Okay. Sebet, would you answer this question for me, please? [translation] It's not really a question, it's more of a statement. [translation] If you don't have enough money to pay for a lawyer, [Frederickson talks over Redgebol as Redgebol responds to the translation] you can get one for free if you like. [translation] Do you understand that? [translation] Thus, Frederickson repeatedly interrupted Redgebol and Abyei during the interrogation in his effort to complete the advisement. As in Aguilar-Ramos, the detective failed to answer Redgebol's questions or clarify Redgebol's considerable confusion regarding the Miranda rights.
Besides Frederickson's repeated interruptions, the audio recording also contains numerous nonsensical statements by Redgebol, which often corresponded to instances when Abyei appeared to struggle with understanding what she was translating. At the outset of the interrogation, Redgebol talked about the Dinka right to tell the truth while Frederickson was explaining the Miranda right to silence. Soon after, Redgebol's response to the advisement that anything he said could and would be used against him in a court of law  a right Abyei seemed to have difficulty both grasping and translating  was illogical: After I tell the truth, even if it's used against me, then I make sure that I tell the truth. Perhaps most troubling, Redgebol repeatedly gave confusing answers when Frederickson attempted to advise him of his right to a lawyer, confusion that was surely exacerbated by Abyei's own limited understanding of the role of a lawyer. Redgebol asked Frederickson who would be paying for the lawyer, and then gave his permission for the lawyer to come and question him when Frederickson was finished. Indeed, throughout this exchange, Redgebol seemed unclear as to when a lawyer would come and what the lawyer would do, alternatively believing that the lawyer would either bail him out of jail or act as a second investigator who would further question him. Redgebol did not seem to understand that he could request a lawyer  instead thinking that a lawyer would come independently at some point  and expressed confusion as to how a lawyer would know to come when he was in jail. Finally, when Frederickson stated that the state would pay for his lawyer, Redgebol's response was off-topic, as he instead complained about his relationship with the victim's family. In sum, Frederickson's repeated interruptions and Redgebol's nonsensical responses demonstrate that the parties, as in Aguilar-Ramos, frequently had no idea what the other was talking about. See 86 P.3d at 402.