Colorado v. Connelly

479 U.S. 157 (1986)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

Officer Anderson was in uniform working in an off-duty capacity when Connelly (D) approached him and confessed to a murder. Anderson advised D of his rights, but D indicated that he still wanted to confess and did so. A homicide detective arrived, and D confessed again to the murder of Mary Ann Junta, a young girl whom D killed in 1982. D even pointed out the exact location of the crime wherein a young unidentified murdered girl had been found in 1983. The next day the voices in D's head began to take control, and he was sent to a state hospital for evaluation. D was found incompetent to assist in his own defense. However, by 1984 he was found competent to stand trial. D moved to suppress all of his statements in that D was suffering from chronic schizophrenia and that he was obeying the voice of God in his actions and that D was not free to make rational choices. The trial court suppressed the statements as it deemed them involuntary. The State Supreme Court affirmed.