People v. Frett

54 V.I. 221, 2011 WL 921644, 2011 V.I. LEXIS 12
CourtSuperior Court of The Virgin Islands
DecidedFebruary 18, 2011
DocketST-08-CR-452
StatusPublished

This text of 54 V.I. 221 (People v. Frett) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Superior Court of The Virgin Islands primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Frett, 54 V.I. 221, 2011 WL 921644, 2011 V.I. LEXIS 12 (visuper 2011).

Opinion

WILLOCKS, Judge

MEMORANDUM OPINION

(February 18, 2011)

THIS MATTER came before the Court on a Motion to Suppress the Statement made by the Defendant Auriel Devon Frett. The People have filed an Opposition; the Defendant has filed a supplemental and the People filed a response to the supplemental.

FACTS

On or about October 26, 2008, Auriel Devon Frett (hereinafter, “Frett”) and John Southwell (hereinafter, “Southwell”) allegedly were catching a ride from at the top of Cassi Hill, St. Thomas. The victim, Gabriel Lemer (hereinafter, “Lemer”) stopped and picked up Frett and Southwell. Frett and Southwell stopped at a grocery store leaving Lemer in the car alone. When they arrived at Hull Bay, Lemer was placed in the trank of the vehicle. Frett and his accomplice drove Lemer to Bordeaux, pass the Water Bible College. Once there, Lemer was taken out of the trank and walked the path into the bushes. When they reached a spot along the pathway, Lemer was shot in the back of his head. Both defendants fled the [224]*224area.1 On or about October 28, 2008, Frett and Southwell were seen driving the victim’s car. A high speed chase ensued but Frett and Southwell were able to elude the police. An all point bulletin was posted and another chase ensued. The vehicle driven by Frett and Southwell crashed into a police vehicle and was disabled. Frett and Southwell ran from the vehicle but were later captured. Southwell, then a minor was brought to the investigation bureau and in the presence of his mother was advised of his constitutional rights, waived them and gave a statement to the police in which he implicates Frett as the killer of Lemer.

On October 28, 2008, at about 6:42 p.m., Frett was interviewed by either Detective Jason Marsh (hereinafter “Detective Marsh”) or Detective Mario Stout (hereainfter “Detective Stout”). Frett signed his name on the Warning As to Rights and Waiver Form, acknowledging that he was read his constitutional rights and consented that he wished to waive his rights. Frett began to give a statement, about two pages, and at approximately 7:01 p.m. Frett told Detective Marsh he wanted an attorney. At that point, Detective Marsh stopped the questioning and left the room to go talk to Southwell in the Investigation room, who was simultaneously being questioned regarding Lerner’s murder. Frett remained in the room with Detective Stout.

Several hours later, Detective Stout went by the door and someone told him that Southwell was cooperating and gave a statement indicating that Frett was responsible for the killing. Detective Stout, without prompting or solicitation from Frett, proceeded to share that information with Frett. Upon being told about that he was implicated in the murder, Frett told Detective Stout he wanted to make a statement Frett was again advised of his constitutional rights and signed the Warnings As to Rights form at 10:05 p.m. on the 28th of October 2008. Frett gave Detective Stout a five page written statement (hereinafter, the “Second Statement”).

Frett has moved to suppress his statement. The People have filed their opposition; Frett has filed a supplemental and the People have filed a response to the supplemental.

DISCUSSION

Frett initially argued that the Warning as to the Rights and Waiver Form was defective under Florida v. Powell, 130 S. Ct. 1195, 175 L. Ed. 2d [225]*2251009. The Court finds no merit in that argument. However, the Court finds Frett’s argument that the words spoken to him after he requested an attorney constituted an interrogation to be meritorious.

The interrogation of a suspect in police custody (custodial interrogation) threatens the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination because it allows police officers with the opportunity to (1) actively compel confessions through overtly coercive interrogation or (2) passively compel confessions by exposing suspects to the “inherently coercive” environment create by custodial interrogation. See New York v. Quarles, 467 U.S. 649, 654, 104 S. Ct. 2626, 81 L. Ed. 2d 550 (1984). Hence, before questioning a suspect in custody, law enforcement officers must inform him in substance that (1) he has the right to remain silent, (2) anything he says can be used against him in a court of law, (3) he has the right to the presence of an attorney, and (4) if he cannot afford an attorney one will be appointed for him prior to any questioning if he so desires. Id. at 662.

In this instant matter, it is uncontroverted that Frett was in custody, read his rights, and knowingly and voluntarily waived them. It is further uncontroverted that during the custodial interrogation of Frett, he (Frett) demanded to see an attorney. At that time, the questioning stopped. A few hours later, Detective Stout, who had remained in the room alone with Frett after the questioning had stopped, went by the door and learned that Southwell, who was being questioned simultaneously in a different room, was cooperating and gave a statement indicating that Frett had committed the murder. At that time, Frett told Detective Stout that he (Frett) wanted to make a statement. Detective Stout re-advised Frett of his constitutional rights and Frett signed another Waiver and Consent Form. After having been advised of his right and signing the Waiver and Consent Form, Frett gave Detective Stout a second written statement approximately five pages long.2

The central issue before this Court is whether the words uttered by Detective Stout after Frett had demanded to see an attorney was of such to constitute interrogation in violation of Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 474, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694 (1966), and Rhode Island v. Innis, 446 U.S. 291, 301, 100 S. Ct. 1682, 64 L. Ed. 2d 297 (1980). To [226]*226make that determination, the Court must do a two prong analysis. The first is whether the statement made by Detective Stout is the equivalent of interrogation and the second is whether Detective Stout should have known that, by making this statement, it was reasonably likely to elicit an incriminating response. Innis, 446 U.S. at 301.

The Miranda Court has opined that once a defendant in custody asks or demands to speak to his attorney, all interrogations must cease until a lawyer is present. See Miranda, 384 U.S. at 474. In Miranda, the Court stated:

Once warnings have been given, the subsequent procedure is clear. If the individual states that he wants an attorney, the interrogation must cease until an attorney is present. At that time, the individual must have an opportunity to confer with an attorney and to have him present to subsequent questioning. If the individual cannot obtain an attorney and he wants one before speaking to police, they must respect his decision to remain silent. Id at 473-474.

The Court in Innis defined custodial interrogation as:

We conclude that the Miranda safeguards come into play whenever a person in custody is subjected to either express questioning or its functional equivalent.
That is to say, the term “interrogation” under Miranda refers to

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Related

Florida v. Powell
559 U.S. 50 (Supreme Court, 2010)
Miranda v. Arizona
384 U.S. 436 (Supreme Court, 1966)
Rhode Island v. Innis
446 U.S. 291 (Supreme Court, 1980)
Edwards v. Arizona
451 U.S. 477 (Supreme Court, 1981)
New York v. Quarles
467 U.S. 649 (Supreme Court, 1984)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
54 V.I. 221, 2011 WL 921644, 2011 V.I. LEXIS 12, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-frett-visuper-2011.