Court Opinion

ID: 9634315
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 13:08:41.357287+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:42:18.935860
License: Public Domain

McDERMOTT, Justice,
dissenting.
The gravaman of Miranda, its progeny, and the entire field of law dealing with the fifth and sixth amendments is that an accused must not be compelled to incriminate himself. I see nothing in this record which demonstrates that appellant was compelled to do anything. The conclusion of the plurality to the contrary shows a greater concern for the content of appellant’s statement than for the circumstances in which it was made.
In addition, I believe that the facts of this case are analogous to those which existed in Commonwealth v. Ziegler, 503 Pa. 555, 470 A.2d 56 (1983); and I find nothing in this record which warrants the directly contradictory result which the plurality decision effects.
Therefore, I dissent.