Confession not suppressed when subject stated they drank 12 beers that evening
Facts In 2008, William and Gail Kelly were walking for exercise along a road in Harrison County, Mississippi. When they saw headlights approaching, they moved onto a private road to put a lane of traffic between themselves and the oncoming vehicle. Nevertheless, the vehicle, driven by Shirley Taylor, sped up and struck William Kelly, who […]
Attempting to stop vehicle based on previous encounters was reckless disregard in this case
Facts On June 11, 2006, Jackson Police Officer Adrian May spotted Carol Dearman driving a Jeep near the corner of Terry Road and Evergreen Avenue. Dearman was not driving recklessly. But, based on previous encounters with Dearman, May knew Dearman to be a drug-user and a prostitute. May also knew Dearman did not have a […]
Religious talk by officer did not render confession involuntary
Facts In 2006, Horn Lake seventh-grader L.Q. ate lunch with an older family friend, Alexandria Christie. She gave Christie a handwritten note that said her father, Timmy Harden, had raped her. Christie reported the information to L.Q.’s mother, Towanda Conley. The same day, Conley, L.Q., Christie, and Harden gave statements at the police station. During Harden’s tape-recorded […]
Subject can waive both 5th and 6th amendment right and talk to police
Facts Robert Peterson returned to his home in east Columbus after fourteen hours at work in September, 2006. He found his house ransacked “like a tornado had gone through” and called 911. Officers from the Columbus Police Department (CPD) arrived twenty to thirty minutes later. They observed splintered wood and broken glass at the back-door […]
Blood obtained by consent and/or exigent circumstances in this case
Facts In 2007, Larry Setzer was driving east in a Ford F–250 pickup truck on Goodman Road in Southaven, Mississippi. As Setzer approached the traffic light at the intersection of Goodman Road and Airways Boulevard, his vehicle collided with a stationary Buick Park Avenue passenger car in the north turn lane of east Goodman Road. […]
Voluntary consent eliminates need for search warrant
Facts In 2008, while driving a Ford Ranger pick-up truck, Thomas Irby collided with a Dodge van driven by Olivia Miller. Also occupying Olivia’s vehicle was her husband, Justin Miller. All three were injured. Both drivers sustained injuries to their legs and feet, and the passenger, Justin, sustained brain injuries and was in a coma […]