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People v. Brunner

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Nov 14, 1994
209 A.D.2d 532 (N.Y. App. Div. 1994)

Opinion

November 14, 1994

Appeal from the Supreme Court, Kings County (Beldock, J.).


Ordered that the judgment is reversed, on the law and the facts, that branch of the defendant's omnibus motion which was to suppress his statements is granted to the extent that his initial exculpatory statement is suppressed, and admission in evidence of his final videotaped confession is precluded, and the motion is otherwise denied, and a new trial is ordered; and it is further,

Ordered that the appeal from the order is dismissed as academic.

We agree with the defendant's contention that his right to remain silent was not scrupulously honored (see, Miranda v Arizona, 384 U.S. 436). Following his voluntary appearance at a Brooklyn police station, the defendant was advised of his constitutional rights, and unequivocally expressed his unwillingness to speak with the investigating officers. Notwithstanding his protestations, he was questioned and ultimately offered an exculpatory statement. However, it is well settled that a defendant who has declined to answer questions may not, within a short time thereafter, be importuned to speak about the crime without a fresh set of warnings (see, People v. Ferro, 63 N.Y.2d 316, cert denied 472 U.S. 1007; People v. Jacobs, 196 A.D.2d 831). Accordingly, the defendant's initial exculpatory statement should have been suppressed. However, his subsequent statements were properly received in evidence, since they were preceded by further warnings and valid waivers, and they were not the result of continued importunity or coercive interrogation (see, People v. Gary, 31 N.Y.2d 68; People v. Pou, 185 A.D.2d 642; see also, People v. Chapple, 38 N.Y.2d 112; People v. Ates, 157 A.D.2d 786).

The defendant's final inculpatory statement, which was recorded on videotape, should have been precluded due to the People's failure to provide the requisite notice of their intention to introduce it at trial as required by CPL 710.30.

We have reviewed the defendant's remaining contentions and find them to be without merit. Miller, J.P., Joy, Altman and Goldstein, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

People v. Brunner

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Nov 14, 1994
209 A.D.2d 532 (N.Y. App. Div. 1994)
Case details for

People v. Brunner

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. CHARLES BRUNNER…

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department

Date published: Nov 14, 1994

Citations

209 A.D.2d 532 (N.Y. App. Div. 1994)
619 N.Y.S.2d 90

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