Michigan v. Mosley

423 U.S. 96 (1975)

Facts

Mosley (D), was arrested in connection with robberies that had recently occurred at a bar and restaurant. D was taken to the station and advised of his Miranda rights. An officer began questioning D about the robbery. D said he did not want to answer any questions about the robberies. The police ceased the interrogation. About 2 hours later, another Detective brought D from the cell block to the fifth-floor office of the Homicide Bureau for questioning about the fatal shooting of a man named Leroy Williams. Before questioning D about this homicide, the Detective advised him of his 'Miranda rights.' D read the notification form both silently and aloud. D signed the warning form. D at first denied any involvement in the Williams murder, but after the officer told him that Anthony Smith had confessed to participating in the slaying and had named him as the 'shooter,' D made a statement implicating himself in the homicide. The interrogation lasted approximately 15 minutes, and at no time during its course did D ask to consult with a lawyer or indicate that he did not want to discuss the homicide. D was charged with first-degree murder. D moved to suppress his incriminating statement claiming that under Miranda it was constitutionally impermissible for the second Detective to question him about the Williams murder after he had told the first Detective that he did not want to answer any questions about the robberies. The trial court denied the motion to suppress. D was convicted of first-degree murder, and the court imposed a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. The appellate court reversed the judgment of conviction; the second interrogation had been a per se violation of the Miranda doctrine. Further appeal was denied by the Michigan Supreme Court. The State (P) filed a petition for certiorari. It was granted by the Supreme Court.