Court Opinion

ID: 9791515
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 02:12:45.028212+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:37:36.740451
License: Public Domain

Hale, C.J.
(dissenting) — I dissent to a new trial granted here on what appears to me to be insubstantial grounds. In a case where the proof of guilt was overwhelming and undeniable and the defendant had been informed repeatedly of her rights under the Miranda doctrine, I do not believe it reversible error, even under Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 10 A.L.R.3d 974 (1966), that the written statements were received in evidence. The best proof that defendant waived whatever immunities she subsequently claimed under the Miranda principles is that, after having been fully informed repeatedly, she nevertheless voluntarily continued to make incriminating statements to the police and voluntarily signed the written statements into which her admissions had been incorporated. Her state of mind and mental capacity to understand the nature and consequences of her statements were issues of fact to be decided by the jury, supported in *379this case by substantial proof that defendant was at the time mentally competent to appreciate all of the circumstances of her arrest and interrogation. There being substantial proof that all admissions and statements were voluntary, uncoerced and competently given, the admission fell to the discretion of the court. I agree with the trial court that, there being substantial evidence to support the findings of the trial court, they ought not be thereupon disturbed. Sylvester v. Imhoff, 81 Wn.2d 637, 503 P.2d 734 (1972); State v. Braun, 82 Wn.2d 157, 509 P.2d 742 (1973).
I think the rule disastrous to the administration of the criminal law that, where an accused has been carefully informed of his rights, privileges and immunities according to the Miranda principle and has voluntarily waived them by speaking freely and answering questions, the entire interrogation and the confession, no matter how fully corroborated it may be by other evidence, shall be rejected or a judgment reversed merely because at some time or another during the interrogation the accused has indicated a preference to have counsel present while at the same time continuing to speak.
Accordingly, I would affirm.
Hunter, J., concurs with Hale, C. J.