Court Opinion

ID: 9629709
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 09:47:40.697877+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:18:07.793189
License: Public Domain

OGG, Judge,
dissenting:
I must respectfully dissent. The record from the voluntariness hearing shows both officers involved in the interrogation of the defendant deny making any promises to induce defendant to make his statements. The defendant did not testify at the hearing.
The statements of Detective Bryant which purportedly require a reversal appear only to encourage the defendant to tell the truth with the encouragement that if he cooperates with the police he probably can expect better treatment at the time of sentencing.
Before an Arizona appellate court will disturb the trial court’s finding of voluntar-iness the record must show the trial court clearly and manifestly erred in finding the confession was freely and voluntarily given. State v. Cobb, 115 Ariz. 484, 566 P.2d 285 (1977). The court must look to the totality of the circumstances to determine if the defendant’s will was overborne and his capacity for decision diminished. State v. Knapp, 114 Ariz. 531, 562 P.2d 704 (1977); State v. Edwards, 111 Ariz. 357, 529 P.2d 1174 (1974). In Cobb the Arizona Supreme Court refused to set aside the trial court’s determination that a confession was voluntary when the confession was obtained after a seven hour interrogation in the middle of the night and the police had lied to the defendant about finding his fingerprints in the victim’s home.
In this case, the trial court found the defendant had been advised of his Miranda rights at least three times and that there had been no promises or deals made to induce the defendant to make his confession.
I cannot say from the totality of the circumstances that the defendant’s will was overborne and that his capacity for decision was so diminished that it was manifest error for the trial court to allow defendant’s statements to be admitted into evidence.
I would therefore affirm the conviction and sentence.