Court Opinion

ID: 9571060
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:28:51.669552+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:26:59.324585
License: Public Domain

Beasley, Judge,
dissenting.
The State concedes that such action was insufficient. This case should be remanded for appropriate findings by the court on this issue. Parker v. State, 255 Ga. 167, 168 (1) (336 SE2d 242) (1985); Hicks v. State, 255 Ga. 503, 504 (1) (340 SE2d 604) (1986); Berry v. State, 254 Ga. 101, 104 (1) (326 SE2d 748) (1985).
A number of factors requires it. First, the defendant was a nineteen-year-old soldier who was summoned to the Criminal Investigation Division of his unit where he was introduced to the police officer from Hinesville. An advice of rights form was read to him, which he signed. Hart initially was hesitant and reluctant to talk with the civilian officer and asked to speak alone with the CID officer first. That officer told him if he was innocent, as he claimed, he should talk to the police. He did not tell Hart he did not have to do so.
The waiver form correctly stated that “If you decide to answer questions without a lawyer present, you will still have the right to stop answering at any time. You also have the right to stop answering at any time until you talk to a lawyer.” Despite this, the Hinesville officer was of the opinion that he did not have to stop questioning in the face of a voiced desire to stop until a request for an attorney was made. Even this request by Hart was not enough, and the questioning continued, resulting in the suppression of a portion of the statement here at issue.
Hart said that during the questioning, the officer told him he could get Hart psychiatric help if he needed it, and that it would be possible for Hart to stay with his family. The officer did not deny making these promises, only lack of recollection as to them.
The lack of clarity of the court’s initial ruling, as conceded by the State, along with the partial suppression of the statement for violation of constitutional rights, and the promises of benefit, require a remand. Parker, supra. While the promise of psychiatric help alone is *837not hope of benefit, see Pounds, supra, it is coupled with the indication that Hart could remain with his family. This requires further consideration and a specific holding of voluntariness by the court.
Decided December 5, 1989.
Gary A. Sinrich, for appellant.
Dupont K. Cheney, District Attorney, J. Stephen Archer, Assistant District Attorney, for appellee.
I am authorized to state that Judge Sognier joins in this dissent.