Opinion ID: 2623122
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Emotional state

Text: Holmes also contends that his emotional grief over his girlfriend's death and the fact that he had her blood on him rendered his waiver involuntary. Holmes cites Haley v. Ohio, 332 U.S. 596, 599-600, 92 L. Ed. 224, 68 S. Ct. 302 (1948), in arguing that his fragile emotional and mental state was similar to that of a 15-year-old minor. Consequently, he contends the State's burden to prove a knowing and voluntary waiver should be greater. In State v. Jones, 218 Kan. 720, 722, 545 P.2d 323 (1976), the court held that an accused charged with the crimes of murder and robbery might be under a certain amount of emotional stress; however, the court could not say that because defendant was crying he could not freely and voluntarily confess to the crimes. See also State v. Goering, 8 Kan. App. 2d 338, 347, 656 P.2d 790 (1983) (Meyer, J., dissenting) (the fact defendant became emotional during confession does not make that confession any less the product of free will). Holmes has not pointed to any evidence indicating that he showed emotional stress or grief during the interrogation, and the fact he had the victim's blood on him does not render his confession involuntary. Looking at the totality of the circumstances, Holmes' confession was freely, voluntarily, and knowingly made. Holmes admits the interrogation was noncoercive, and the detectives followed procedural safeguards against inherent coercion by reading Holmes his Miranda rights. Also, Holmes' waiver of Miranda rights and his ability to communicate were not impaired by his drug use, sleep deprivation, or his emotional state. Substantial evidence supports the district court's finding that Holmes' statements were freely, voluntarily, and intelligently given.