Court Opinion

ID: 9761534
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 01:44:49.961874+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:29:24.163654
License: Public Domain

MANDERINO, Justice,
dissenting.
Appellant could not have made a knowing, intelligent and voluntary waiver of his constitutional rights prior to giving a statement in the hospital emergency room. The court erred in failing to suppress this statement and appellant is entitled to a new trial.
Statements given while one is or has just recently undergone medical treatment must be closely examined as to whether they are knowingly and freely made. Commonwealth v. Perry, 475 Pa. 1, 379 A.2d 545 (1977). The facts in this case show that appellant was admitted to the hospital at 1:40 a. m., and was “severely intoxicated and unable to relate any further information regarding his injuries.” The police arrived at 5:05 a. m., while appellant was receiving treatment for a gunshot wound and head lacerations. Three or four minutes after treatment was completed the police began interrogating him. Appellant was a heroin addict and track marks in his arm were visible. Appellant had been given medication for his pain. Appellant laid on a treatment table in the emergency room throughout his interrogation. After making a statement recorded by police, the appellant refused to sign it.
*428Under circumstances such as these, this Court is deluding itself in holding that appellant’s statement was the product of a free and unconstrained will. I dissent.