People v. Vese

100 Misc. 2d 8, 417 N.Y.S.2d 1015, 1979 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2406
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedJune 22, 1979
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 100 Misc. 2d 8 (People v. Vese) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Vese, 100 Misc. 2d 8, 417 N.Y.S.2d 1015, 1979 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2406 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1979).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Frederic S. Berman, J.

The defendant, Rosalyn Vese, stands accused of the crime of murder in the second degree (Penal Law, § 125.25). She has moved to suppress all statements made by her in relation to a fire which took place on January 20, 1979, at 158 First Avenue, in which her common-law husband was killed, thereby resulting in the instant criminal proceeding against her. Those statements fall into two categories: a series of "exculpatory” statements made to a police officer, two homicide detectives, and two fire marshals; and a set of confessions made to a homicide detective, a fire marshal, and an Assistant District Attorney.

In researching the varied issues in this case, the court would note the landmark and far-reaching opinion of the United States Supreme Court in Dunaway v New York (442 US 200), a decision which will have a substantial impact on the ability of law enforcement officials to conduct station [10]*10house interrogations of suspects in future cases. The significance of Dunaway, as it applies to this case, will be examined at some length later in this opinion.

The court, after a three-day Huntley hearing, and, after reading the extensive briefs submitted by both sides, makes the following findings of fact and conclusions of law.

FINDINGS OF FACT

At approximately 1:55 a.m. on January 20, 1979, Police Officer Solberg responded to a report of a fire at 158 First Avenue, Apartment 6, in Manhattan. Upon learning that the fire resulted in the death of one Juan Torres, and that the defendant Rosalyn Vese had shared Apartment 6 with the deceased, Officer Solberg sought out the defendant. Solberg encountered her on the street, and, due to the bitter cold of that night, asked her to enter a police car to answer some questions.

Thus began a 16-hour period during which the defendant was the subject of police questioning. During that period, there occurred four series of statements which are the subject of the motion to suppress. First, there are "exculpatory” statements made to Officer Solberg in the car. Second, there are "exculpatory” statements made to a Detective Finelli at the first homicide zone. Third, there are "exculpatory statements” and a confession made to a Detective Chartrand and Fire Marshals Regan and Clarke at the first homicide zone. Fourth, there is a video taped confession made to an Assistant District Attorney at the homicide zone.

While sitting with her in the police car, Officer Solberg asked the defendant some basic pedigree information. When asked what happened, the defendant responded that she arrived home some time between 1:45 and 2:00 a.m. to find the apartment in flames. She stated that her efforts to put out the fire and rouse Juan Torres, who was sleeping at the time, were unsuccessful. She stated that she eventually abandoned her efforts and fled to seek help.

Officer Solberg got out of the car on several occasions to confer with firemen and other police officers. As a result of these conversation, Solberg learned that the fire was of suspicious origin. Solberg also learned that Detective Finelli wanted the defendant brought to the first homicide zone to [11]*11answer more questions. Each time Solberg exited the car, his partner remained inside the car with the defendant.

At approximately 3:10 a.m. Solberg informed the defendant that she would be going to the first homicide zone. Officer Solberg was asked on cross-examination:

"Q. Now would it be fair to say then after you spoke to Detective Finelli, you went back into the car and told Miss Vese that she would have to wait in the car until the detective spoke with her and she couldn’t leave until she did speak to the detectives?
"A. That’s correct.”

At another point in the cross-examination, he was asked:

"Q. Back in the car, after speaking to the detectives and your superiors, did you then tell her she would have to remain in the car until she spoke to the detectives and they would determine when she would leave?
"A. Yes.”

Solberg never formally placed the defendant under arrest, never handcuffed her, and never advised her of her Miranda rights.

The defendant was transported to the first homicide zone at approximately 3:30 a.m. Upon her arrival, the defendant requested and got permission to make a phone call. Solberg then remained with the defendant until Finelli arrived.

Detective Finelli had been at the scene of the fire gathering information. Among the things that he had learned was that the defendant and the deceased had had a stormy relationship, that the fire was deemed suspicious, and that the earliest the fire could have started was 1:45 a.m. Finelli started to question the defendant at approximately 5:00 a.m. He began the interview by giving Miranda warnings to the defendant. After each individual warning was read, Finelli asked, "Do you understand?” The defendant made no response to these questions. Indeed the defendant has no recollection of having received any warnings. However, after reading her the rights, Finelli asked, "Now that I have advised you of your rights, are you willing to answer questions without an attorney?” The defendant responded, "Yes.”

The interview lasted approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes, and ended at 6:45 a.m. The defendant repeated essentially the same story she told Officer Solberg. There was, however, one [12]*12significant change. She changed the time of her arrival at the apartment from 1:45 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Detective Finelli testified that he did not regard the defendant as a suspect when he questioned her. However he admits having ordered the defendant held for questioning, having telephoned defendant’s girlfriend to verify the defendant’s story about where she had been earlier that evening, having the defendant repeat her story over and over, confronting the defendant with the inconsistencies in her story, and having asked the defendant if she set the fire.

Neither Detective Finelli nor Officer Solberg ever told the defendant she was free to leave the station house until after the questioning was completed at 6:45 a.m.

She then proceeded to take the train to her mother’s house in The Bronx, arriving there at approximately 8:30 a.m. No sooner did she walk in the door than her mother told her that the police had called. The defendant returned the call, and was asked to return to the first homicide zone to answer some additional questions. She was informed that two fire marshals would come to pick her up. By 10:30 a.m. the defendant was back at the station house answering questions which were being put to her by three new questioners, Detective Chart-rand, and Fire Marshals Clarke and Regan. They had her recite her version of the events repeatedly. They confronted her with inconsistencies in her story. The questioning lasted until approximately 1:00 p.m.

At approximately 12:30 p.m. the defendant said to Fire Marshal Clarke, "I think I’m going to need representation,” or "I think I’m going to need an attorney.” In either case, Clarke took this to mean that the defendant wanted a lawyer and he so communicated that fact to Detective Chartrand and Fire Marshal Regan who were in another location of the station house at the time. Chartrand and Regan entered the room. Chartrand placed the defendant under arrest and gave her the

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Bluebook (online)
100 Misc. 2d 8, 417 N.Y.S.2d 1015, 1979 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2406, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-vese-nysupct-1979.