Court Opinion

ID: 9741064
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 20:48:55.992893+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:22.058376
License: Public Domain

D. E. Holbrook, P. J.
(dissenting). This writer is unable to agree with the majority, not being "left with a definite and firm conviction that a mistake was committed” at defendant’s Walker hearing.
It is apparently conceded that, as of the time of the first two interviews, the investigation had not narrowed on the defendant. Between the second and third interrogations, the police were told by defendant’s mother that she was missing a clothesline rope similar to the rope found around the neck of the murder victim. It is this information which apparently causes the majority to conclude that the investigation had then narrowed on the defendant. As a matter of fact, however, the police had been checking on an alibi that defendant had given at a prior interview, and had found no reason to believe the alibi was untrue. Further, there was no effort made at that time to ascertain *384whether or not defendant’s fingerprints were among those found at the scene of the murder. This was not done until sometime after the interview on February 15, 1973 (that being the fifth interview). Had the investigation narrowed on the defendant at the time of the third interview, it seems strange indeed that the police would wait two weeks to find whether defendant’s fingerprints had been left at the scene of the crime. Approximately one week after the second January 31st interview the defendant was asked whether or not he would take a lie-detector test. He said he would not do so until he had talked to his attorney. He was not questioned further at that time. On February 15 defendant was in Bay City to take a polygraph examination on another matter. At this time, still no effort had been made to place defendant at the scene of the crime through fingerprints. On February 16 it was discovered that defendant’s fingerprints were in the house where the murder had occurred. Also, on this date defendant agreed to take a polygraph test. He was warned of his rights and he confessed.
There is absolutely nothing in the record to indicate that defendant was forced to say anything against his will. In fact, there is nothing in the record, other than the tale of the missing clothesline, to indicate that the investigation had narrowed on the defendant. At least five others had submitted to a polygraph examination concerning the murder in question. Other suspects existed. There was evidence that the dead woman’s estranged husband had been with her earlier in the evening on the day she was murdered. There was evidence that she had telephoned another man on the night of her murder. This man claimed that he had never been to her home, but later changed his *385story. As it developed, there was expert testimony which established that the clothesline which defendant’s mother had lost could not have been the clothesline found at the scene of the murder.
The trial court found that, until the sixth interrogation, the finger of guilt had not yet pointed at this defendant. The lower court also found that all the statements that defendant made were made voluntarily. This writer finds nothing in the record which warrants a "definite and firm conviction that a mistake was committed” below. I would therefore vote to affirm.