People v. Skinner

• Decision Date: 13 July 1979
• Citation: 419 N.Y.S.2d 402,71 A.D.2d 814
• Parties: PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Harry G. SKINNER, Appellant.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

Page 402

419 N.Y.S.2d 402

71 A.D.2d 814

PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Harry G. SKINNER, Appellant.

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department.

July 13, 1979.

Nathaniel A. Barrell, Buffalo, by Kurt T. Sajda, Buffalo, for appellant.

Edward C. Cosgrove, Dist. Atty., Buffalo, by John J. DeFranks, Buffalo, for respondent.

Before DILLON, P. J., and SIMONS, HANCOCK, DOERR and MOULE, JJ.

MEMORANDUM:

Defendant's chief contention on his appeal from a judgment of conviction of manslaughter in the first degree (Penal Law § 125.20) in connection with the death of Diane Snell on June 22, 1975 is that certain oral admissions made at his apartment to Town of Amherst police officers Hohensee and Meredith should have been suppressed and not received in evidence. The incriminating statements were made on March 10, 1977 at about 7:45 p. m. during a general discussion of the Snell homicide following the service upon defendant of an order directing him to show cause in court why he should not appear in a lineup. Defendant, to the knowledge of the police, was at the time represented by Leo Fallon, an attorney. Attorney Fallon had repeatedly instructed defendant that he need not subject himself to interviews by the police and that he should refuse to answer any question. After advising him that he should deliver the show cause order to his attorney, Officer Meredith read the order aloud to the defendant. Although he appeared nervous and upset when served with the show cause order, defendant offered the officers food and drink and at their suggestion agreed to discuss the case. The officers then gave the standard Miranda warnings. During the questioning which ensued, defendant was sitting on a sofa and appeared relaxed and calm. He frequently returned to the kitchen to check the stove on which he was preparing supper. The officers at no time indicated that defendant was under arrest or that his freedom was in any way restricted. There is no suggestion that their actions were in any way coercive.

After making several admissions defendant stated, "I shouldn't have told you as much as I have already" but agreed to accompany the officers to headquarters to give a formal statement. At headquarters he changed his mind and refused to give a statement or to sign a waiver of his rights until he talked with his attorney. Defendant argues that the questioning at his apartment on March 10, 1977 was custodial interrogation and that, therefore, because he was represented by counsel and his counsel was not present, the admissions should have been suppressed (see People v. Hobson, 39 N.Y.2d 479, 384 N.Y.S.2d 419, 348 N.E.2d 894; People v. McKie, 25 N.Y.2d 19, 302 N.Y.S.2d 534, 250 N.E.2d 36; People v. Arthur, 22 N.Y.2d 325, 292 N.Y.S.2d 663, 239 N.E.2d 537; People v. Donovan, 13 N.Y.2d 148, 243 N.Y.S.2d 841, 193 N.E.2d 628).

Although there is no indication of any personal restraint on his freedom, defendant, as evidence that he was in custody, points to the presence of the uniformed policemen in his apartment, their service of the show cause order upon him, his nervousness and the fact that he had had some emotional or psychological problems, and the intensive investigation of the Snell homicide that the police had conducted from June 1975 through October 6, 1975 during which he was repeatedly questioned as a suspect, given two lie-detector tests and asked to accompany police in an automobile to the places where he had admitted having taken Diane Snell.

We reject the contention that these factors transformed the defendant's voluntary participation in the questioning in the non-coercive atmosphere of his home into a custodial interrogation. It cannot be said that defendant was deprived of his freedom of action in any way or that he was " 'led to believe, as a reasonable person, that he (was) so deprived.' " (People v. Rodney P. (Anonymous), 21 N.Y.2d 1, 8-10, 286 N.Y.S.2d 225, 233, 233 N.E.2d 255, 260, quoting People v. Arnold, 66 Cal.2d 438, 58 Cal.Rptr. 115, 121, 426 P.2d 515 (S.Ct.1967). See People v. Yukl, 25 N.Y.2d 585, 589, 307 N.Y.S.2d 857, 859, 256 N.E.2d 172, 173, cert. den. 400 U.S. 851, 91 S.Ct. 78, 27 L.Ed.2d 89; People v. Kumpan, 55 A.D.2d 748, 389 N.Y.S.2d 194.) That defendant, immediately after the questioning, stated that he had said more than he should have and subsequently refused to give a written statement at headquarters is evidence that he was fully cognizant of his right to refuse to answer and that the circumstances surrounding the interrogation were not coercive. Considering all of the circumstances, we...