State v. Maxon

756 P.2d 1297 (Wash. 1988)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

Ds are the parents of the adult defendant, Eric Maxon. Eric is charged with first-degree murder. Eric made statements about the case to Ds. They were made at Ds' home and also may have been made to the defendant's father at the police station. The trial court found that the statements were intended to be confidential. P took the parents' depositions. Ds refused to answer questions concerning what the defendant had said to them. They claimed that his statements were privileged based on constitutional, public policy and other grounds. P's motion for an order compelling answers to questions on deposition was granted. Ds refused to answer. The trial court held Ds in civil contempt and ordered their confinement in jail until they obeyed the order. Ds appealed.