Defendant, John Kusowski, was convicted by a jury of second-degree murder on March 26, 1975. The conviction largely rested upon the testimony of two witnesses whose identities were discovered through statements illegally elicited from the defendant. We granted appeal limited to the issue of whether the Court of Appeals erred in concluding that the testimonial fruits of the illegally obtained statements should have been excluded at trial. Finding error, we reverse.
I
At approximately noon on July 31, 1974, John Kusowski was arrested by Saginaw County authorities for the murder of August Tvardos. On that day, the defendant was questioned twice by the police, once before and once after his arrest. The first interrogation session, which took place in the police patrol car parked in the defendant’s driveway, resulted in his arrest. The second interrogation was conducted at the police station approximately three hours after the arrest. During both interrogations, defendant told the police that he had visited his friends, Richard Ban and Robert Sovine, at the Fordney Hotel after he hit the victim over the head with a shotgun on the night of July 28, 1974.
It was admitted at trial by Detective Sergeant Daniel Huff, one of the arresting officers, that at the time he interrogated the defendant in the
Neither Ban nor Sovine initiated contact with the police concerning their July 28, 1974, visit with the defendant. Richard Ban was approached by Officer Huff on July 31, 1974, the day defendant was arrested, and the police contacted Robert Sovine on August 8, 1974. Ban therefore did not divulge what he knew about the death of August Tvardos until 3 days after the defendant is said to have fatally injured him, and it was approximately 11 days before Sovine gave the police the information he had.
On March 3, 1975, after receiving testimony concerning the circumstances under which the defendant was interrogated, the trial court excluded defendant’s statements from use as evidence at trial. The reason assigned was that the prosecution had failed to carry the burden of showing that the defendant had waived his rights to silence and to appointed counsel before being questioned. On the first day of trial, the court denied the defendant’s motion to exclude the testimony of Ban and Sovine.
Both Ban and Sovine testified against the defendant and stated that Kusowski had come to their hotel room on July 28, 1974, blurting out that he thought he had killed Tvardos. Each witness testified that Kusowski had blood on his clothing and appeared to be extremely agitated.
On appeal, the Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s denial of the defendant’s motion to suppress the testimony of Ban and Sovine.
Even though the trial court based the suppression order in part on the failure to show waiver of the right to appointed counsel, the defendant does not specifically argue that his Sixth Amendment right to counsel was violated. In any event, we are convinced that the United States Supreme Court would not find such an argument persuasive. See
Michigan v Tucker,
Neither are we presented with a violation of Kusowski’s Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. It is uncontroverted that prior to each interrogation session the defendant was fully advised of his privilege and reminded that anything he said could be used against him. The defendant does not allege that he was threatened or forced into speaking at either interrogation. The interrogating officer testified that no such coercive tactics were employed. The first interrogation lasted from 10 to 13 minutes. There thus was "no compulsion sufficient to breach the right against compulsory self-incrimination”. Tucker, supra, 445.
Ill
Although we are convinced that no error of
In Tucker, supra, the United States Supreme Court held that third-party testimonial evidence derived from a Miranda violation is not to be excluded where the interrogation occurred before the decision in Miranda. The Court has not decided whether the same result obtains in a case such as this, where the questioning occurred after the Miranda decision. Our reading of Tucker convinces us that it does.
Prior to
Tucker
the Court appeared to equate a
Miranda
violation with an infringement of a constitutional right.
2
But
Tucker
makes it clear that a
Tucker therefore indicates that the applicability of the exclusionary rule under circumstances involving testimony obtained as a result of a Miranda violation is not a foregone conclusion, but would in essence involve an extension of the suppression rule. In recent cases the Supreme Court has refused to extend application of the exclusionary rule beyond those circumstances in which it already operates. 3
For example, in
United States v Janis,
Furthermore, the Court in
United States v Ceccolini,
"[T]he Court has also held admissible at trial testimony of a witness whose identity was disclosed by the defendant’s statement given after inadequate Miranda warnings. Michigan v Tucker,417 US 433 , 450-451 (1974).” Ceccolini, supra, 278.
This statement of the Tucker holding prompted no response from the dissenting members of the Court.
We have found no case decided since Tucker, and none is pointed out, holding that third-party testimony discovered as a result of a Miranda violation is to be suppressed. Those courts which have addressed the question have concluded that the interest in preventing future police conduct which violates Miranda does not justify depriving the government of use of the evidence. 4
The Court of Appeals erred in deciding that the testimony of Ban and Sovine should have been suppressed.
Reversed.
This case concerns the "inevitable discovery” exception to the "fruit-of-the-poisonous-tree” exclusionary rule. At issue is the admissibility of the testimony of witnesses whose identity was discovered through statements made by the defendant.
We find that the instant case falls into the "inevitable discovery” exception to the exclusionary rule. 1 We reverse the Court of Appeals. Defendant’s conviction is reinstated.
I. Facts
On July 31, 1974, the body of August Tvardos was discovered in his house. While investigating the homicide the police were informed by a relative of the deceased that John Kusowski, the defendant, had some contact with the deceased concerning money. The same day the police went to defendant’s home and escorted him to the squad car for questioning. At this time defendant admitted that he (1) knew Tvardos, (2) had been in his home and (3) had struck Tvardos over the head with a shotgun. Defendant also mentioned Robert Sovine and Richard Ban, friends he had visited after leaving Tvardos’ home. Defendant was then arrested and taken to the police station for a formal statement. Part of the formal statement included the fact that defendant had talked with two friends, Richard Ban and Robert Sovine, at the Fordney
March 3, 1975, prior to trial, defense counsel moved to suppress any and all incriminatory statements made by defendant. An evidentiary hearing was held and the trial judge granted defendant’s motion to suppress the statements because the prosecution had not sustained its burden of proof that there had been a knowing and intelligent waiver of the privilege against self-incrimination, a
Miranda v
Arizona,
On the day of trial, March 20, 1975, defendant moved to suppress all evidence procured through the use of the incriminating statements previously suppressed, including the testimony of Ban and Sovine. The trial court denied defendant’s motion.
At trial Ban and Sovine testified for the prosecution. Their testimony implicated defendant in the homicide. The defendant was convicted of second-degree murder.
In a separate record, made out of the presence of the jury, the investigating officer admitted that the only lead he had had to Sovine or Ban came from the statements made by the defendant. However, during the trial there was testimony that linked the defendant to Sovine, Ban and the Fordney Hotel. The defendant’s father, when asked by defense counsel with whom his son associated, responded "[w]ith Sovine at the county home”. Defendant, Sovine and Ban had been residents of the county home. When questioned about the night of the homicide, defendant’s father stated that his son told him he had spent the night "at the hotel”. Later, defendant’s father identified the hotel as the "Fordney Hotel”.
We granted leave to determine the admissibility of the testimony of Ban and Sovine.
II
In this case we are concerned with a possible violation of the Fifth Amendment right against compulsory self-incrimination. A violation of this constitutional right would require the application of the exclusionary rule.
In the instant case it is not the inadmissible statements made by the defendant that are at issue, but the information derived from those statements, the identity of the witnesses.
The United States Supreme Court has yet to directly address the question of an "inevitable discovery” exception to the exclusionary rule although it has in dicta recognized the existence of that doctrine.
2
Consequently, we must interpret
In
Michigan v Tucker,
"whether the police conduct complained of directly infringed upon respondent’s right against compulsory self-incrimination or whether it instead violated only the prophylactic rules developed to protect that right [Miranda warnings].”417 US 433 , 439.
The Court was faced with a unique factual situation. The defendant’s arrest and interrogation was
pre-Miranda,
but his trial
post-Miranda.
At the time of the interrogation the police were in full compliance with the rules governing interrogations as established by
Escobedo v Illinois,
The United States Supreme Court, however, found the testimony of a witness, whose identity was learned through the suppressed statements,
The Court limited its decision to the particular factual situation it was presented.
"We consider it significant to our decision in this case that the officers’ failure to advise respondent of his right to appointed counsel occurred prior to the decision in Miranda. Although we have been urged to resolve the broad question of whether evidence derived from statements taken in violation of the Miranda rules must be excluded regardless of when the interrogation took place, we instead place our holding on a narrower ground. For at the time respondent was questioned these police officers were guided, quite rightly, by the principles established in Escobedo v Illinois,378 US 478 (1964), particularly focusing on the suspect’s opportunity to have retained counsel with him during the interrogation if he chose to do so.”417 US 433 , 447.
The United States Supreme Court concluded that the "case involved no compulsion sufficient to breach the right against compulsory self-incrimination ** * *”. 3 The Court found "that the police conduct * * * departed only from the prophylactic standards later laid down by this Court in Miranda to safeguard that privilege”. 4 Using that distinction as one of their bases, the United States Supreme Court, under these circumstances, found admissible the fruit-of-the-poisonous-tree testimony of a witness whose identity was learned through statements taken from the defendant without full compliance with the requirements of Miranda.
In
Brown v Illinois,
" 'The rule is calculated to prevent, not to repair. Its purpose is to deter — to compel respect for the constitutional guaranty in the only effectively available way— by removing the incentive to disregard it.’ Elkins v United States,364 US 206 , 217 [80 S Ct 1437 ;4 L Ed 2d 1669 ] (1960). But [d]espite its broad deterrent purpose, the exclusionary rule has never been interpreted to proscribe the use of illegally seized evidence in all proceedings or against all persons.’ United States v Calandra, 414 US [338], at 348 [94 S Ct 613 ;38 L Ed 2d 561 (1974)]. See also Michigan v Tucker,417 US 433 , 446-447 (1974).”422 US 590 , 599-600.
Thus, the Court recognized valid exceptions to the exclusionary rule as it has been applied to both Fourth and Fifth Amendment violations.
In unraveling the lower court’s decision in Brown, the United States Supreme Court reviewed the Fifth Amendment right against compelled self-incrimination in relation to the Miranda warning and found:
"This Court has described the
Miranda
warnings as a 'prophylactic rule,’
Michigan v Payne,
The Brown Court thus acknowledged the Tucker Court’s concern with the "genuine compulsion of testimony” 6 and the role of the Miranda warnings.
Both
Tucker
and
Brown
would require exclusion of a statement taken without the benefit of
Miranda
warnings. Therefore, any exception to the exclusionary rule, with reference to the Fifth Amendment right against compelled self-incrimination, would only occur at some point past the primary illegality, the illegally obtained statements. Any exception we find could only apply to the fruit of the poisonous tree, the derivative evidence. Yet, because of the United States Supreme Court’s concern with coerced self-incrimination, we find there would be no exception to the exclusionary rule, even for the "fruit”
7
where
If the "inevitable discovery” exception to the exclusionary rule has any place, in relation to the right against compelled self-incrimination, it can only be in instances where there was no conduct by the police abridging the right against compulsory self-incrimination as discussed in Tucker. Once such conduct is not found, a full review of the situation in light of the rationale of the "inevitable discovery” exception would be possible.
Ill
In recent years a growing number of jurisdic
"The so-called 'inevitable discovery’ rule, a relatively recent refinement in American criminal law, is an evolving exception to the Constitutional exclusionary rules, in force in both federal and state jurisdictions, which prohibit the use in court of evidence procured by law enforcement officers in violation of the constitutionally protected rights of the accused.” 40 Albany L Rev 483.
The doctrine is limited to situations involving the "fruit” as opposed to the poisonous tree; it is only the derivative evidence that has in some instances been admitted under this exception. 9 The "poisonous tree”, the primary evidence seized in violation of a constitutional right or safeguard, has still been excluded by use of the exclusionary rule. The inevitable discovery exception has been applied in cases involving the Fourth Amendment right against "unreasonable searches and seizures” and the Fifth Amendment right against compelled self-incrimination.
The "inevitable discovery” doctrine has evolved from an analysis of similar exceptions to the exclusionary rule reviewed in
Wong Sun v United States,
"Hence this is not the case envisioned by this Court where the exclusionary rule has no application because the Government learned of the evidence 'from an independent source,' Silverthorne Lumber Co v United States, 251 US 385 , 392 [40 S Ct 182 ;64 L Ed 319 (1920)]; nor is this a case in which the connection between the lawless conduct of the police and the discovery of the challenged evidence has 'become so attenuated as to dissipate the taint.’ Nardone v United States,308 US 338 , 341 [60 S Ct 266 ;84 L Ed 307 (1939)]. We need not hold that all evidence is 'fruit of the poisonous tree’ simply because it would not have come to light but for the illegal actions of the police. Rather, the more apt question in such a case is 'whether, granting establishment of the primary illegality, the evidence to which instant objection is made has been come at by exploitation of that illegality or instead by means sufficiently distinguishable to be purged of the primary taint.’ Maguire, Evidence of Guilt, 221 (1959).”371 US 471 , 487-488.
In Wayne v United States, 115 US App DC 234; 318 F2d 205 (1963), a case involving an illegal search, Chief Justice Burger, then a circuit judge, stated:
"The contention is that the entry of the police into his apartment, which had been found by a District Judge on a pre-trial motion to have been illegal, and the seizure of the body immediately following such illegal entry, precluded the introduction of the coroner’s testimony about the condition of the body and the cause of death. The doctrine invoked is that commonly known as the 'fruit of the poisonous tree.’ * * *
"Without now reaching the legality of the entry, we agree with the government that, in the circumstances of this case, the testimony objected to could not be considered as the 'fruit of the poisonous tree.’ ” 115 US App DC 234, 238.
The Court analyzed the situation in light of the mandates of Wong Sun, supra, and found that:
"It was inevitable that, even had the police not entered appellant’s apartment at the time and in the manner they did, the coroner would sooner or later have been advised by the police of the information reported by the sister, would have obtained the body, and would have conducted the post mortem examination prescribed by law.” 115 US App DC 238.
In
People v Fitzpatrick,
"In line with this reasoning, the courts have held that evidence obtained as a result of information derived from an unlawful search or other illegal police conduct is not inadmissible under the fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine where the normal course of police investigation would, in any case, even absent the illicit conduct, have inevitably led to such evidence. [Citations omitted.] In other words, as one commentator put it, the inevitable discovery factor 'permits the government to remove the taint from otherwise poisoned fruit by establishing that the unlawful act from which it resulted was not a sine qua non of its discovery.’”32 NY2d 499 , 506-507.
In
Government of Virgin Islands v Gereau,
502 F2d 914 (CA 3, 1974), one of the questions presented was whether evidence found as a result of an illegal statement,
Miranda
violation, obtained from the defendant was admissible. After reviewing the facts, the court found that the district judge was not in error in admitting the evidence because the government had shown that "the police and F.B.I. agents would have found the luger
It appears that a number of jurisdictions 11 considering the issue have adopted the "inevitable discovery” rule as a valid exception to the exclusionary rule, fruit-of-the-poisonous-tree doctrine.
IV
The application of the "inevitable discovery” exception to the exclusionary rule therefore requires, as it applies to the Fifth Amendment right against compulsory self-incrimination, a two-prong test. First, has there been police conduct sufficient to abridge the constitutional privilege, a "genuine compulsion of testimony”, or just a breach of the prophylactic standards that safeguard the privilege. Second, "would the police have discovered the tainted evidence through the utilization of legal and predictably performed investigatory procedures, and without resort to illegal methods”.
First, the trial court made no finding of force or violence. The court found the prosecution had not sustained its burden of proving a knowing and intelligent waiver of the privilege against self-incrimination and the right to court-appointed counsel. This refers to the prophylactic rule rather than the constitutional guarantee.
Second, although the police admitted that their
The witnesses were known friends of the defendant. They had lived together at the county home. Defendant’s father testified that defendant was known to hang around with the witnesses. This information alone would seem sufficient to lead to the witnesses being questioned by the police.
Defendant’s father also testified that his son told him he spent the night in question at a hotel. The hotel was later identified as the Fordney Hotel. This was the residence of the witnesses. Again, this information alone would have led the police to the Fordney Hotel and then to the witnesses in question.
V. Conclusion
We find there was no violation of the defendant’s Fifth Amendment right against compelled self-incrimination, only a violation of "the prophylactic rules developed to protect that right”.
We find also that there was sufficient information available to the police that the discovery of the witnesses was inevitable. We therefore conclude that the testimony of the witnesses Ban and Sovine was admissible.
The decision of the Court of Appeals is reversed and defendant’s conviction reinstated.
Notes
"We do not believe that
Escobedo [v Illinois,
Orozco v Texas,
"[T]he use of these admissions obtained in the absence of the required warnings was a flat violation of the Self-Incrimination Clause of the Fifth Amendment as construed in
Miranda.”
United States v Janis,
United States v Cannon,
529 F2d 890, 894-895 (CA 7, 1976);
Bertram v State, 33
Md App 115, 166-167;
La Count & Girese, The "Inevitable Discovery” Rule, an Evolving Exception to the Constitutional Exclusionary Rule, 40 Albany L Rev 483 (1976).
In
Brewer v Williams,
' "The District Court stated that its decision 'does not touch upon the issue of what evidence, if any, beyond the incriminating statements themselves must be excluded as "fruit of the poisonous tree.” ’
"[T]he issue is whether the statements were to be excluded as the fruit of the illegal arrest, or were admissible because the giving of the
Miranda
warnings sufficiently attenuated the taint of the arrest.”
"Wong Sun v United States,
"Nothing in
Tucker
suggests that there need not be exclusion of third party testimony where a state court defendant can show that such testimony is the product of a coerced or involuntary statement.
Tucker
holds that a failure to give a required
Miranda
warning is not
"We can envisage that the balancing (as performed in Tucker) of the social interest in trustworthy evidence against the needs for deterrence of improper police conduct might cause the Supreme Court to allow the admission of third party testimonial fruits of interrogation of an accused in custody without Miranda warnings in a case where, unlike Tucker, the event occurred after the Miranda decision. Even with that assumption, it seems to us most improbable that such balancing would permit the prosecution to use similar third party testimonial results of coerced statements * * *. Surely in Tucker, the Court took pains to point out that the Tucker facts lacked coercion sufficient to amount to compulsion of self-incrimination * * *." United States v Cannon, 529 F2d 890, 892 (CA 7, 1976).
"So, in
Tucker,
the failure to advise an accused during a custodial interrogation, held prior to the
Miranda
decision, of his right to appointed counsel, did not in the circumstances existent, infringe against the right against compulsory self-incrimination but only violated the prophylactic rules developed to protect that right. Therefore, the use of the testimony of a witness discovered by the police as a result of the accused’s statements did not violate any requirements under the Fifth, Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments, relating to the adversary system.”
Ryon v State (On Remand),
29 Md App 62, 67;
"This rule holds that tainted derivative evidence may be used if the government can demonstrate that it would inevitably have been discovered by lawful means without the aid of the unlawfully obtained primary evidence. It is properly considered an exception to the exclusionary rule for it allows the use of derivative evidence, the discovery of which was proximately caused by unlawful official conduct, on a rationale that the unlawful conduct was not a sine qua non to the discovery of the derivative evidence.” Ringel, Searches & Seizures, Arrest and Confessions (Clark Boardman Co, Ltd, 1977 Cum Supp), p 21.
Silverthorne Lumber Co v United States,
United. States ex rel Owens v Twomey,
508 F2d 858 (CA 7, 1974);
Government of Virgin Islands v Gereau,
502 F2d 914 (CA 3, 1974);
United States v Falley,
489 F2d 33 (CA 2, 1973);
United States v Jackson,
448 F2d 963 (CA 9, 1971);
United States v Seohnlein,
423 F2d 1051 (CA 4, 1970);
Killough v United States,
119 US App DC 10; 336 F2d 929 (1964);
Wayne v United States,
115 US App DC 234; 318 F2d 205 (1963);
People v Fitzpatrick,