Court Opinion

ID: 9692583
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 15:57:37.544539+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:19:35.428016
License: Public Domain

Daley, J.
(in dissent) My disagreement with the majority lies solely with their statement that the evidence presented a factual issue upon the question of the voluntariness or involuntariness of the defendant’s confession. My review of the evidence leads me to the opposite conclusion. I believe the evidence surrounding the taking of the confession was not conflicting and presented no factual issue. I cannot find any evidence or legitimate inference to be drawn therefrom giving rise to any inference in law or fact that the confession was other than voluntary or the product of coercion, inducement, fear, promise of benefit, or any other unlawful activity on the part of the police officers.
In the absence of a factual issue for the jury determination, the trial court was correct in not submitting the issue, and its refusal to charge as requested by the defendant was without error. See State v. Rochelean, 131 Vt. 563, 577, 313 A.2d 33 (1973). I would affirm.