People v. Solari

43 A.D.2d 610, 349 N.Y.S.2d 31, 1973 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 3186
CourtAppellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
DecidedNovember 8, 1973
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 43 A.D.2d 610 (People v. Solari) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Solari, 43 A.D.2d 610, 349 N.Y.S.2d 31, 1973 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 3186 (N.Y. Ct. App. 1973).

Opinion

Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of Broome County, rendered on October 10, 1972, upon a verdict convicting the defendant of the crime of murder. Defendant was convicted of the murder of Jéd Layman, an alleged boyfriend of the defendant’s estranged wife. He was originally apprehended by the police after the Broome County Sheriff’s office received a phone call from a man who identified himself as “ Solari ” and said, “I’m the guy you’re looking for” and agreed to wait for the police at a designated phone booth. After he was picked up at that booth, searched and handcuffed, he was taken in a police ear to the Sheriff’s department. During that ride, Sgt. Skinner of the Binghamton police gave defendant an admittedly incomplete recitation of his rights and no other conversation ensued. Upon reaching the Sheriff’s department, defendant was taken to the criminal investigation office and his handcuffs were removed. He began to talk to the officers present and was told by Sgt. Skinner to remain silent until such time as he was- informed of his rights. The sergeant proceeded to so warn him, reading from a Miranda warning report (see Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U. S. 436). When he had been fully informed of and stated that he understood all of his rights, he balked when asked, “do you want a lawyer at this time?”. After first responding in the negative, he said that if Layman was dead, he would need an attorney, and, when the sergeant truthfully advised him that he did not know the victim’s condition, decided that he would not talk at that time, as he was uncertain of what had happened to Layman. Sgt. Skinner then explained to him that he could not talk to the police until he decided whether or not he wanted a lawyer. Approximately five minutes later this entire procedure was repeated, after the defendant, on his own initiative, stated that he wanted to tell the officers what had happened. The only change in circum[611]*611stance this time was that Sheriff Perhaeh, who knew that Layman had died, was present. When the defendant expressed reservations about talking because of his uncertainty about Layman’s condition, the Sheriff said nothing. Defendant then decided tp talk to the officers anyway, but stated that he would not sign anything or give a typewritten statement. Though Sgt. Skinner explained to him that anything he did Say could be used against him, whether or not he signed n~ty of the forms, he still proceeded to tell the officers what had happened. Shortly thereafter, he agreed to and did repeat his story in the presence of Mr. Powers, an Assistant District Attorney. After' this second statement, Mr. Powers identified himself to the defendant as an- Assistant District Attorney and advised him that Layman was dead. This news visibly'upset the defendant and, when he was asked if he wished to talk with anyone, he indicated that he would like to talk with his father in New Jersey. A phone call was then placed to the elder Mr. Solari and defendant appeared relaxed, and composed after speaking with his father-. Mr. Powers then proceeded to advise defendant of his rights, using a fresh Miranda, warning report, and, as before, defendant stated that he understood his rights. Mr. Powers typed up the report, filling in defendant’s responses to the questions, and gave it to the defendant- to review. Defendant then .signed the report, which was witnessed by Mr. Powers and the Sheriff, and executed a written confession, which wás similarly witnessed. It is here that a major factual controversy emerges. The typewritten response to question 8 on the Miranda report, do you want a lawyer at this time?”, is “yes”, and defendant claimed, while testifying at his Huntley suppression hearing (see People w Huntley, 15 N Y 2d 72), that, before the typewritten Miranda report, wás signed, he had expressly stated to both Sheriff Perhaeh and Mr. Powers his desire to see an attorney, but was put off by both of them. The Sheriff and Mr. Powers both denied under oath that defendant had ever requested an opportunity to see an attorney in their presence and contended that the affirmative response to question 8 was a typographical error. After the suppression hearing, conducted prior to defendant’s trial, the court made the following findings: That both Sgt. Skinner and Assistant District Attorney Powers had properly advised defendant of his constitutional rights, in accordance with the decision of Miranda v. Arizona {supra), before any questioning occurred; that the defendant did not request an attorney during questioning or at any time prior to signing the confession; ánd that defendant’s statements and admissions were made voluntarily and not under the influence of fear produced by threats, force, or coercion. Accordingly, the court ruled that, beyond a reasonable doubt, the defendant had voluntarily, intelligently and knowingly waived his constitutional rights, as required by Miranda v. Arizona {supra), and that, beyond a reasonable doubt, the written statement and oral admissions of the defendant were made voluntarily. The court, therefore, denied defense motions to suppress the oral admissions and written statement and also a motion to suppress the tape made of defendant’s initial phone call to the. Sheriff’s department. At trial, the prosecution offered into evidence only the signed, written statement of the defendant. The defense raised the issue of voluntariness of the written statement for the consideration of the jury, and the court charged the jury to that effect. Also, the defense asserted the affirmative defense of “extreme emotional disturbance” pursuant to section 125.25 of the Penal Law (subd. 1, par. [a]). The jury returned a unanimous verdict, finding defendant guilty of the crime of murder, and he was sentenced by the court to an indeterminate term of imprisonment of a minimun) of 20 years and a maximum of life. Three basic issues are raised on this appeal: 'Whether sufficient evidence exists to sustain the trial court’s finding [612]*612at a pretrial suppression hearing that, beyond a reasonable doubt, defendant knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily waived his privilege against self incrimination and right of counsel before making a confession to the police; whether defendant’s confession to the police was involuntary because, considering the totality of circumstances surrounding defendant’s interrogation by police, defendant’s confession was coerced; and whether the jury’s verdict, in rejecting defendant’s affirniative defense, should be reversed as contrary to the law and against- the weight of thé evidence. We find that sufficient evidence does exist to sustain the trial court’s finding as to the defendant’s waiver. It is clear that both Sgt. Skinner and Assistant District Attorney -Powers, through their use of Miranda warning- reports, fully apprised defendant of his constitutional rights as required by Miranda v. Arizona (supra). Also, though defendant made no express statement of waiver of his rights, such a statement is unnecessary where, as here, “ the facts and surrounding circumstances clearly demonstrate that such a waiver was otherwise made” (People v. Ruiz, 34 A D 2d 908, 909). Furthermore, defendant’s statement might be seen as volunteered and spontaneous,- and thus admissible, even if Miranda warnings had not been given (People v. Kaye, 25 N Y 2d 139). As the court in that case said, it has not yet been held that the police “must take affirmative steps, by gag or otherwise, to prevent a talkative person in custody from making an incriminating statement” (People v. Kaye, supra,

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Smith v. Perez
722 F. Supp. 2d 356 (W.D. New York, 2010)
Linnen v. Poole
689 F. Supp. 2d 501 (W.D. New York, 2010)
People v. Collins
123 A.D.2d 778 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1986)
People v. Casassa
404 N.E.2d 1310 (New York Court of Appeals, 1980)
People v. Tarsia
67 A.D.2d 210 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1979)
People v. Cunningham
97 Misc. 2d 618 (New York County Courts, 1978)
People v. Waddy
63 A.D.2d 492 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1978)
People v. Schwertfeger
60 A.D.2d 996 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1978)
People v. Congilaro
60 A.D.2d 442 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1977)
People v. McGuffin
55 A.D.2d 772 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1976)
People v. Shelton
88 Misc. 2d 136 (New York Supreme Court, 1976)
People v. Davis
49 A.D.2d 437 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1975)
People v. Tibbs
82 Misc. 2d 7 (New York County Courts, 1975)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
43 A.D.2d 610, 349 N.Y.S.2d 31, 1973 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 3186, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-solari-nyappdiv-1973.