Court Opinion

ID: 9724259
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 10:50:24.298515+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:24:58.640044
License: Public Domain

DeBRULER, Justice,
concurring.
I agree that the prosecution met its heavy burden to prove that appellant’s incriminating statements were admissible. With respect to that burden, Justice Hunter said:
The state, according to Miranda, has a “heavy burden ... to demonstrate that the defendant knowingly and intelligently waived his privilege against self incrimination.” We have adopted this standard in past decisions. Nacoff [v. State (1971), 256 Ind. 97, 267 N.E.2d 165], supra; Dickerson v. State (1972), Ind. [257 Ind. 562], 276 N.E.2d 845. The issue, therefore, before this Court, is whether the state met its “heavy burden”, i.e., proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the confession was voluntarily given.
Burton v. State (1973), 260 Ind. 94, 105, 292 N.E.2d 790, 797-98. See also Magley v. State (1975), 263 Ind. 618, 335 N.E.2d 811; Reaves v. State (1992), Ind., 586 N.E.2d 847. In this case, appellant Shane appeared at the station house at about 9:00 a.m. The record discloses that he was read the following required Miranda advise-ments:
You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
You have the right to talk to a lawyer and have him present with you while you are being questioned.
If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, one will be appointed to represent you before any questioning, if you wish.
You can decide at any time to exercise these rights and not answer any questions or make any statements.
Appellant then signed a written waiver that was at the bottom of the paper upon which the above advisements were printed:
I have read the above statement of my rights and I understand each of those rights, and having these rights in mind I waive them and willingly make a statement.
He then signed a consent to search and was taken to a hospital for the purpose of taking various physical specimens from his body. At 11:00 a.m., while still in the company of police, appellant was placed in custody. He was subjected to two interrogation sessions, one at 11:00 a.m. and another *430at 2:00 p.m. the same day. Before each of the two sessions, he was reminded of the prior reading of advisements and said that he still understood his rights, and answered questions without coercion. I agree that from this set of circumstances the trial court was warranted in concluding beyond a reasonable doubt that at 9:00, appellant knowingly and voluntarily relinquished his rights to remain silent and to have counsel, and that such relinquishment occurred again prior to each interrogation. The manner in which the majority opinion distinguishes this situation from that present in Edwards v. State (1980), Ind., 274 Ind. 387, 412 N.E.2d 223 is entirely appropriate.
KRAHULIK, J., concurs.