In re Emilio M.
Opinion of the Court
Order of the Family Court of the State of New York, New York County, entered November 30, 1973, committing appellant to the Elmira Reception Center for a period not to exceed three years, reversed, on the law, without costs and without disbursements, and the case remitted to the Family Court for further proceedings.- The inculpatory statement admitted following a Huntley hearing is suppressed. The appellant was found to have committed acts which, if done by an adult, would constitute the crimes of manslaughter in the first degree, assault in the third degree, and possession of a dangerous instrument. There were no mitigating circumstances. At the Huntley hearing, the appellant’s first confession was suppressed, but his second confession, which took place after his mother’s arrival at the police precinct, was found to be admissible. It is contended that the second confession is tainted by the prior inadmissible one. However, the New York rule is to the effect that this will not ipso facto render a subsequent statement inadmissible. (People v. Tanner, 30 N Y 2d 102; People v. Stephen J. B., 23 N Y 2d 611; cf. United States ex rel. Stephen J. B. v. Shelly, 430 F. 2d 215.) Nonetheless; in order to render a confession admissible, there must be full compliance with section 724 of the Family Court Act. (Matter of Aaron ID., 30 A D 2d 183.) Section 724 (subd. [b], par. [ii]) of the Family Court Act requires that the questioning take place in “ a facility designated by the appropriate appellate division of the supreme court as a suitable place for the questioning of children”. In this case, the interrogation took place in the 34th Precinct not yet then designated as suitable. Further, it was later specifically found unsuitable by this court. Under the circumstances, the second confession must also be suppressed and the matter remanded for further proceedings. It should here be indicated that the confession has to do with the manslaughter charge and does not affect the other aspects involved. Concur-—-Kupferman, Murphy and Capozzoli, JJ.; Markewieh, J. P., dissents in the following memorandum: I dissent, and would affirm the disposition made in Family Court. The suppression of appellant’s confession by the majority is founded upon failure to comply fully with section 724 of the Family Court Act, citing as authority Matter of Aaron D. (30 A D 2d
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.