People v. Nelson

Defendant, a 15-year-old, was tried as an adult and convicted of the murder of a 72-year-old and of five first degree burglaries relating to the residences of the victim and two other women. At issue was whether defendant made a postwaiver invocation of his Miranda rights by asking several times to speak to his mother or by making certain other statements while being questioned. The court held that juveniles claiming a postwaiver invocation of their Miranda rights were properly subject to the Davis v. United States standard. Applying that standard, the court concluded that the trial court did not err in finding that defendant's requests to speak to his mother and other statements were not sufficiently clear to require cessation of the interrogation. Accordingly, defendant's confessional statements were properly admitted at trial, and the contrary judgment of the Court of Appeal must be reversed. View "People v. Nelson" on Justia Law