Commonwealth v. Leuzzi

68 Pa. D. & C.2d 14, 1974 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 193
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County
DecidedApril 18, 1974
Docketno. 1588-89-90
StatusPublished

This text of 68 Pa. D. & C.2d 14 (Commonwealth v. Leuzzi) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Commonwealth v. Leuzzi, 68 Pa. D. & C.2d 14, 1974 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 193 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1974).

Opinion

SAVITT, J.,

This is a motion to suppress a confession, heard before this court on April 4,1974.

On January 18, 1974 at approximately 2:05 a.m., Homicide Detectives Hopwood and McCormick went to the residence of defendant, Carmen Leuzzi, and his wife at 1007 Montrose Street. Detective Hopwood advised defendant that he wanted to question him at the Police Administration Budding. Defendant and his wife suggested the questioning occur in the home but, in response to a further request, defendant accompanied the detectives to the Police Administration Building. While being transported, defendant was advised he was being questioned concerning the beating of a boy named Robert Mason who had subsequently died.

Defendant arrived at the Police Administration Building at approximately 2:20 a.m. and was placed in a room by himself. At 2:30 a.m. defendant was given full and complete Miranda warnings by Detective Hop-wood. At this time, defendant appeared healthy, had no signs of injury, made no complaints, did not appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol and seemed alert.

Defendant proceeded to give an oral, exculpatory statement that was completed at 2:50 a.m. Defendant initialed the question concerning his Miranda warnings and signed his name. At 2:50 a.m. Detective Hop-wood asked defendant if he would take a polygraph test. Defendant agreed and from 2:50 a.m. to 4:45 a.m. was subjected to the polygraph examination.

From 4:45 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. defendant was returned to Room 118 in the Police Administration Building [16]*16where he remained alone while Detective Hopwood went out to ascertain the truthfulness of the statement made earlier by defendant.

At 6:30 a.m. Detective Hopwood in the presence of Detective Bennett obtained an oral incriminating statement from defendant which Detective Hopwood put in writing. Defendant read and signed this statement at the bottom of each page. This procedure lasted until 7:10 a.m. During the time this oral interview was being conducted, defendant was not threatened, coerced, physically abused or promised anything.

At 7:10 a.m. defendant was formally charged with the crime and was arraigned at approximately 10 p.m., 20 hours after being taken into custody.

The only issue argued before this court is whether the incriminating statement given by defendant was obtained as a result of an unnecessary delay between arrest and arraignment in violation of Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure 130.1

Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure 130 provides that:

“When a defendant has been arrested without a warrant in a court case, he shall be taken without unnecessary delay before the proper issuing authority where a complaint shall be filed against him and he shall be given an immediate preliminary arraignment.”

Beginning with Commonwealth v. Futch, 447 Pa. 389, 290 A. 2d 417 (1972), the Pennsylvania courts gave new meaning and interpretation to the term “unnecessary delay” and new consequences resulting from a failure to abide by Rule 130. In Futch, supra, the Supreme Court defined what was permissible delay:

“ ‘Necessary delay can reasonably relate to time to [17]*17administratively process an accused with booking, fingerprinting and other steps and sometimes even to make some limited preliminary investigation into his connection with the crime for which he was arrested, especially when it is directed to possible exculpation of the one arrested.’ ”

The court then tackled the problem of what would be the consequence of a violation of Rule 130. The court adopted the McNabb-Mallory Rule, 354 U. S. 449, 77 S. Ct. 1356 (1947), used by the Federal courts. This rule precludes the use of any evidence obtained during an unnecessary delay if that unnecessary delay contributed to the securing of the evidence. The court held that all evidence obtained by an unnecessary delay must be excluded except that which has no reasonable relationship to the delay whatsoever: Commonwealth v. Futch, supra.

In Commonwealth v. Tingle, 451 Pa. 241, 301 A. 2d 701 (1973), the Supreme Court reaffirmed the Futch decision. They viewed Rule 130 together with Rule 140,2 and a defendant’s right to know the charges against him, right to secure counsel, right to have a preliminary hearing and the right to make bail.

In Commonwealth v. Dutton, 453 Pa. 547, 307 A.2d 238 (1973), the Supreme Court stated the only delays that are necessary are for administrative processing and the unavailability of a magistrate.

In Commonwealth v. Dixon, 454 Pa. 444, 311 A.2d 613 (1973), the Supreme Court specifically limited the only permissible delay as that which is reasonably required for the administrative processing of the accused citizen. The court held that delay beyond that is unreasonable and constitutes a denial of a citizen’s right to know the nature of the charges against him [18]*18and to receive an immediate and reasonable opportunity to regain his freedom by the posting of bail.

Recently the Supreme Court decided Commonwealth v. Williams, 455 Pa. 569, 319 A.2d 419 (1974), filed March 25, 1974. In the Williams case, it was held that an unnecessary delay will not be excused where police utilize the delay to corroborate an accused’s statement.

The Supreme Court’s decisions requiring strict enforcement of Rule 130 have unmistakably added a new dimension to the question of the admissibility of statements made by defendants while in custody. The legal issue presented is not whether the admission was voluntary in the traditional sense but whether the admission was obtained during and as a result of an unnecessary delay between arrest and arraignment. It is an “unnecessary” delay which is the subject of these decisions and not an unreasonable delay. A fair reading of these cases makes it clear that the length of time that elapses between the original arrest and the incriminating statement is not controlling where (1) the delay is unnecessary; (2) evidence that is prejudicial is obtained; and (3) the incriminating evidence is reasonably related to the delay. Thus, the incriminating statement, when it meets the three-part test, is inadmissible even though the elapsed time may be brief.

Conversely, an admissible statement may be obtained during a more substantial delay provided the delay was necessitated by administrative procedures.

The court in Commonwealth v. Williams, supra, leaves no doubt that a prearraignment delay is unnecessary unless required to administratively process an accused. The court stated:

“It must be emphasized that pre-arraignment delay will always be unnecessary unless justified by admin[19]*19istrative processing — fingerprinting, photographing, and the like.” (Italics supplied.)

The court further expressly held that the delay is unnecessary when it is solely to further investigate the case and obtain more incriminating evidence against defendant.

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Related

Mallory v. United States
354 U.S. 449 (Supreme Court, 1957)
Commonwealth v. Dutton
307 A.2d 238 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1973)
Commonwealth v. Tingle
301 A.2d 701 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1973)
Commonwealth v. Dixon
311 A.2d 613 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1973)
Commonwealth v. Williams
319 A.2d 419 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1974)
Commonwealth v. Futch
290 A.2d 417 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1972)

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Bluebook (online)
68 Pa. D. & C.2d 14, 1974 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 193, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/commonwealth-v-leuzzi-pactcomplphilad-1974.