State v. Griffin

Summary

This separate opinion concludes that the defendant's confession was involuntary because the police combined fabricated evidence, threats against his family, false statements about the death penalty and charging consequences, and implied promises of leniency to overcome his will. It further concludes that admitting the confession was not harmless beyond a reasonable doubt and would reverse the convictions other than the firearm-possession conviction and remand for a new trial. The opinion agrees with the majority that the home search was constitutional but disagrees with the majority's voluntariness and harmless-error conclusions.