Commonwealth v. Nunes-Daveiga
Commonwealth v. Nunes-Daveiga
Opinion of the Court
Following an evidentiary hearing, a District Court judge allowed the motion of the defendant, Maria A. Nunes-Daveiga, to suppress her statements and field sobriety tests. On appeal, the Commonwealth contends that the motion judge erred in suppressing this evidence "[a]s a result of head trauma suffered at collision." We reverse.
Discussion. "In reviewing a ruling on a motion to suppress, we accept the judge's subsidiary findings of fact absent clear error 'but conduct an independent review of [the judge's] ultimate findings and conclusions of law.' " Commonwealth v. Hernandez,
Where a defendant "has produced some evidence that [a] statement [made to a law enforcement officer] was involuntary," a "judicial determination of voluntariness is necessary." Commonwealth v. Tavares,
Here, in allowing the motion to suppress, the motion judge found that "[a]s a result of head trauma suffered at collision," the defendant did not voluntarily make any statements to the police or submit to field sobriety tests. The only evidence before the motion judge, however, was the testimony given by State Police trooper Taylor and paramedic Matthew Ryan. The defendant did not testify, nor is she required to. Neither Taylor nor Ryan testified that they thought the defendant had suffered a head injury. Indeed, the defendant told Taylor that she was not injured, and Ryan testified that he observed no signs of injury or trauma. The defendant's affidavit, filed in support of the motion, suggests that she sustained concussive effects from the accident that prevented her from voluntarily making any statements to the police or consenting to field sobriety testing. The motion judge's reliance on these statements was error as the defendant's "affidavit is not evidence and may not be considered by the judge for purposes of deciding the motion to suppress. The permissible findings of fact at the evidentiary hearing must find support in the evidence-the testimony and exhibits, which have been introduced in evidence at the suppression hearing." Commonwealth v. Lawson,
Order allowing motion to suppress reversed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.