Jul 23, 2008 1:04 pm US/Eastern
Judge Throws Out Alleged Confession In Cop Killing
MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) ―
A judge has thrown out an alleged admission by the man accused of capital murder in the shooting of a Manchester police officer two years ago.
Superior Court Judge Kathleen McGuire ruled that police violated Michael Addison's rights by not immediately halting questioning when he said he wanted a lawyer.
In a 32-page ruling released Wednesday, McGuire wrote that Addison clearly asked for a lawyer and officers were obligated to stop questioning him immediately. Instead, even though they understood Addison wanted a lawyer, they continued reviewing his statements until he waived his rights and spoke with them, McGuire wrote.
During the questioning that followed, police said Addison admitted he shot a gun over his shoulder while running away from Officer Michael Briggs in October 2006. Briggs was shot in the head. He died the next day.
A partial transcript shows Addison said several times that he would like a lawyer as police explained his rights. But he also said several times he would talk to police without a lawyer and understood that he could stop talking if he wanted.
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