Opinion ID: 853946
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Was Farber's Confession Admissible?

Text: The trial court granted a motion to suppress the evidence which resulted from Farber's confession. (R. at 5-6, 59.) The State sought an interlocutory appeal, and the Court of Appeals reversed in part. It held that the audio-taped conversation between Farber and his wife as well as any private communications between them were properly suppressed under the spousal privilege. State v. Farber, 677 N.E.2d 1111 (Ind.Ct. App.1997), trans. denied. On the other hand, it held that Farber's conversation with the police and the resulting physical evidence were admissible because the conversation was legally recorded and the confession was voluntary. Id. at 1115. Thus, the question Farber seeks to litigate has already been adjudicated. An appellate court's determination of a legal issue is binding in subsequent appeals concerning the same case and substantially similar facts. Cass County v. Gotshall, 681 N.E.2d 227 (Ind.Ct.App.1997). This direct appeal grows out of the same case as the earlier interlocutory appeal, and we will not relitigate it.