{ "id": 5578857, "name": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. ELIZABETH VAISVILAS, Defendant-Appellee", "name_abbreviation": "People v. Vaisvilas", "decision_date": "1979-03-26", "docket_number": "No. 77-1958", "first_page": "18", "last_page": "24", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "70 Ill. App. 3d 18" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "374 N.E.2d 739", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1977, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "58 Ill. App. 3d 387", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5628121 ], "year": 1977, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/58/0387-01" ] }, { "cite": "362 N.E.2d 798", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "48 Ill. App. 3d 141", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3371791 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/48/0141-01" ] }, { "cite": "368 N.E.2d 870", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "68 Ill. 2d 158", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5809407 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/68/0158-01" ] }, { "cite": "348 N.E.2d 240", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1977, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "38 Ill. App. 3d 495", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2804106 ], "year": 1977, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/38/0495-01" ] }, { "cite": "378 U.S. 478", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6166688 ], "weight": 3, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/378/0478-01" ] }, { "cite": "281 N.E.2d 326", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "51 Ill. 2d 156", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5391390 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/51/0156-01" ] }, { "cite": "364 N.E.2d 56", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "67 Ill. 2d 1", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5811436 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/67/0001-01" ] }, { "cite": "384 U.S. 436", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 12046400 ], "weight": 3, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/384/0436-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 633, "char_count": 16186, "ocr_confidence": 0.909, "pagerank": { "raw": 4.03580807328026e-08, "percentile": 0.1621801116590195 }, "sha256": "b4a37538e4ad0aa9f26c0b4323741021bd4e4a51651aacb7795f359d784327cb", "simhash": "1:bf5bac6f894ac2f3", "word_count": 2656 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:04:20.751997+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. ELIZABETH VAISVILAS, Defendant-Appellee." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Mr. JUSTICE McGLOON\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nOn February 27, 1976, two police investigators responding to a reported homicide searched a basement apartment at 5235 South Kilbourn in Chicago, Illinois, and discovered the body of Belinda Reyes. Based on an oral statement given to the police, Elizabeth Vaisvilas, the defendant and younger sister of the deceased, was indicted for Belinda Reyes\u2019 murder. Pursuant to the defendant\u2019s motion, the trial court ordered that the statements be suppressed. It is from this order that the State now appeals.\nThe State\u2019s sole contention on appeal is that even though the suppressed statements were made outside of the presence of her attorney, the defendant knew and understood her right to remain silent and to have her attorney present and that she freely and knowingly chose to make the suppressed statement. The State thus concludes that the trial court erred in allowing the motion to suppress.\nWe affirm.\nThe defense called three witnesses to testify at the hearing on the motion to suppress. The first of these witnesses, Tom Vaisvilas, the defendant\u2019s husband, testified that at the time of the incident he and the defendant lived together in Justice, Illinois. At about 8 p.m. on February 27, 1976, Mr. Vaisvilas received a telephone call from Mr. Bol\u00e1n, an attorney. Mr. Vaisvilas explained to Mr. Bol\u00e1n that he would need his services and Mr. Bol\u00e1n told him to call when the police arrived. Mr. Bol\u00e1n also spoke over the phone to the defendant, but Mr. Vaisvilas did not hear their conversation. Approximately five hours later, two police investigators arrived at the house. As instructed, Mr. Vaisvilas called Mr. Bol\u00e1n who spoke over the telephone to one of the investigators. At this time, Mr. Bol\u00e1n also spoke to Mr. Vaisvilas and instructed him that his wife should go to the police station with the investigators, but that she should not provide the investigators with any statement. Mr. Bol\u00e1n also indicated that he would meet them at the police station. Mr. Vaisvilas relayed this information to his wife who then left for the police station accompanied by the investigators and Laurie Savage, the daughter of the deceased.\nThe next witness to testify, the defendant herself, indicated that she first spoke with Mr. Bol\u00e1n over the telephone on February 26,1976. Mr. Bol\u00e1n explained to her that he had been retained by her husband to represent her and that if some officers came to her house, she should not talk to them and that he would meet her at the police station. The defendant further testified that in the early morning hours of February 28, 1976, two police investigators arrived at the defendant\u2019s house. Upon the investigators\u2019 arrival, her husband made a telephone call. Investigator Boyle also had a conversation on the phone at this time.\nThe officers escorted the defendant to the police station where they led her to an upper floor room. There, Officers Boyle and Ptak asked her to give a statement. The defendant refused and indicated that she wanted to wait for her attorney. The officers left the room and returned with another officer. During this visit, Officer Ptak stated that \u201cthey had the deceased\u2019s arrest record, knew what kind of person she was, and that whatever [the defendant\u2019s reason], * * * [the deceased] probably deserved it.\u201d When the defendant reiterated her desire to make no statements until her attorney arrived, Officer Ptak shouted \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter if you say anything or not, because as soon as your attorney comes * * * he is going to be arrested.\u201d The officers then left the room. Officers Boyle and Ptak later returned. Officer Ptak accused the defendant of having a fight with the deceased the previous night and of feeling vengeful towards her. At Officer Boyle\u2019s request, Officer Ptak left the room. Officer Boyle then related to the defendant what \u201cprobably happened\u201d the previous night between the defendant and the deceased. The defendant corrected him on several things as he related what he thought had transpired. These statements constitute the statements sought to be suppressed.\nThe defendant further testified that the officers then asked her if she wanted some coffee and informed her that her attorney was at the police station. She was permitted to see her attorney about 10 minutes after she made her statements.\nOn cross-examination, the defendant stated that the first time she spoke to Mr. Bol\u00e1n was about 8:15 p.m. on February 27,1976. She asked him to represent her and he advised her not to make a statement until he arrived at the police station. The police officers never told her she was under suspicion for murder. She said nothing in the car on the way down to the police station with the exception of telling Laurie Savage that she would probably be living with her grandmother.\nThe defendant did admit that Sergeant Boreczky advised her at the police station that she had the right to remain silent and that she, nevertheless, told police that she did not remember what happened on the day of the homicide. She also told the police that her deceased sister had mistreated the defendant\u2019s daughter. When the defendant met her attorney at the police station she told him that the officers had threatened to arrest him. The defendant also stated that prior to the night of the questioning she had been arrested for other offenses and had previously been questioned at a police station.\nThe third witness called by the defense was Michael Bol\u00e1n, the defendant\u2019s attorney. Mr. Bol\u00e1n testified that he first spoke with the defendant at approximately 8 p.m. the evening of February 27, 1976. During this conversation, he advised the defendant of her rights and told her not to make a statement to the police. When the police arrived at the Vaisvilas\u2019 residence, Mr. Bol\u00e1n spoke over the telephone with one of the officers and told the officer that the defendant did not wish to make a statement.\nLater Mr. Bol\u00e1n arrived at the police station where, after a 15-minute wait, he was permitted to see the defendant. Upon identifying himself to his client, the defendant stated, \u201cThey are going to arrest you.\u201d\nThe first witness to testify for the prosecution, Officer John Boyle, testified that at 3:30 p.m. on February 27, 1976, he and his partner, Investigator Ptak, received a radio communication from Sergeant Boreczky that an attorney had reported a homicide victim at 5235 South Kilbourn. The officers searched the apartment and discovered the victim\u2019s body. They could not, however, locate the victim\u2019s daughter. Sergeant Boreczky then called Mr. Bol\u00e1n, the attorney who provided the original information, but Mr. Bol\u00e1n provided no additional information. The police then went to Philip Reyes\u2019 house who told police officers that the victim\u2019s daughter was at the defendant\u2019s house.\nOfficer Boyle further testified that he and Officer Ptak then went to the defendant\u2019s home where Officer Boyle had a telephone conversation with Mr. Bol\u00e1n. During that conversation Mr. Bol\u00e1n never informed Officer Boyle that he had conversed with the defendant and that she did not wish to make a statement.\nThe officers then drove the defendant and Laurie Savage to the police station. While in the car, the defendant twice tried to speak and Officers Boyle and Ptak took turns requesting her to remain silent.\nUpon arriving at the police station, the defendant was taken to the interviewing room where she was advised of her rights. The defendant indicated she understood these rights. Sergeant Boreczky then asked the defendant, \u201cWhy should you do something like this?\u201d The defendant was uncooperative with Sergeant Boreczky, so Officer Boyle asked him to leave the room. Officer Boyle once again advised the defendant of her rights, which she stated she understood. Investigator Boyle then asked, \u201cIf you had anything to do with Belinda, there must be a reason why you don\u2019t want to tell me about it.\u201d The defendant then gave the 15-minute narrative statement which the trial court ordered suppressed. Officer Boyle then left the interviewing room to get defendant some coffee and learned for the first time that her attorney was at the police station. Officer Boyle testified that prior to giving her statement the defendant never indicated that she did not wish to make a statement nor did she ask for her attorney.\nDuring cross-examination, Officer Boyle stated that while he was at the victim\u2019s house he discussed over the phone the possibility of having Mr. Bol\u00e1n arrested. Officer Boyle explained that he was concerned about Laurie Savage\u2019s safety and that Mr. Bol\u00e1n might have been obstructing justice in not offering any information concerning Laurie Savage. Officer Boyle, however, denied that he or anyone else in his presence ever told the defendant that her attorney would be arrested. Officer Boyle also indicated on cross-examination that after speaking to Mr. Bol\u00e1n on the telephone, he assumed Mr. Bol\u00e1n would come to the police station and that nonetheless it was his intention to continue the investigation and not to wait for Mr. Bol\u00e1n.\nAlso called by the State to testify was Officer Ptak. He indicated that during the ride to the police station the defendant twice tried to make a statement and was requested to remain silent. Officer Ptak stated that he did not participate in the questioning of the defendant.\nThe State contends in this appeal that the trial court erred in granting the defendant\u2019s motion to suppress her inculpatory statements. Although acknowledging that the defendant was the subject of a custodial interrogation and that Miranda was thus applicable (see Miranda v. Arizona (1966), 384 U.S. 436, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694, 86 S. Ct. 1602), the State contends that the manifest weight of the evidence shows that the defendant was well aware of her rights and that she knowingly and intelligently waived those rights prior to making the inculpatory statements. We disagree.\nAlthough the State correctly argues that the defendant\u2019s initial request for counsel is not irreversible, a statement given subsequent to a request for counsel and in the absence of counsel may be introduced into evidence only if it is voluntarily given and not made under the force of continued impermissible interrogation. (People v. Morgan (1977), 67 Ill. 2d 1, 364 N.E.2d 56.) There is no requirement that the defendant expressly waive the right of counsel. The test in determining whether statements made in the absence of counsel are admissible is whether there exists a knowing intent to speak without counsel. (People v. Brooks (1972), 51 Ill. 2d 156, 281 N.E.2d 326.) However, if the interrogation continues without the presence of an attorney and the defendant gives a statement, a heavy burden rests on the government to demonstrate that the defendant knowingly and intelligently waived her privilege against self-incrimination and her right to counsel. Escobedo v. Illinois (1964), 378 U.S. 478, 12 L. Ed. 2d 977, 84 S. Ct, 1758.\nThe determination of whether there was a knowing and intelligent waiver of defendant\u2019s privilege against self-incrimination and right to counsel rests upon the particular facts and circumstances of each case. (People v. Markiewicz (1976), 38 Ill. App. 3d 495, 348 N.E.2d 240.) It is only when the trial court\u2019s ruling on the above determination is contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence that we will reverse that ruling on appeal. People v. Wipfler (1977), 68 Ill. 2d 158, 368 N.E.2d 870.\nFor the reasons which follow, we do not believe the trial court\u2019s decision ordering the statements suppressed is against the manifest weight of the evidence. It is apparent from Officer Boyle\u2019s cross-examination testimony that when he spoke to the defendant\u2019s attorney by phone he assumed the attorney would come to the police station and that nonetheless he intended to elicit a statement from the defendant without waiting for defendant\u2019s attorney to arrive. In addition, it is uncontradicted that when the defendant\u2019s attorney did arrive at the police station, the defendant was still being interrogated and that in spite of this fact, her attorney was made to wait 15 minutes before seeing his client.\nIt is further apparent from the testimony of the defense witnesses that the police officers were aware of defendant\u2019s desire to remain silent until after she spoke with her attorney. Defendant\u2019s attorney testified that he spoke with the defendant over the phone and advised her of her right to remain silent and that she expressed a desire to rely on his advice and to not make a statement. Defendant\u2019s attorney further testified that he spoke to Officer Boyle on the phone and related the above conversation to him. Defendant\u2019s attorney also requested Officer Boyle not to interrogate the defendant. The defendant testified that twice while in police custody she told the officers she did not want to make a statement until her attorney arrived. Moreover, the defendant\u2019s testimony reveals that she made the inculpatory statements only after the following two comments were made to her by Officer Ptak: \u201cWhatever your reason was she [the deceased] probably deserved it,\u201d and \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter if you say anything or not, because as soon as your attorney comes, * * \u201d he is going to be arrested.\u201d The only plausible reason for Officer Ptak\u2019s making the first comment was to entice the defendant into making some sort of statement. The second comment clearly had an intimidating effect on the defendant and a chilling impact on her right to counsel and her right to remain silent. This conclusion is supported by Mr. Bolan\u2019s testimony that the first thing she said to him at the police station concerned the police arresting him. Although the police officer did provide testimony concerning their reasons for wanting to arrest defendant\u2019s counsel, these reasons, even if justified, afforded no basis for telling the defendant, while in custody and being interrogated, that they would arrest her attorney.\nIt is true, as the State notes, that much of the testimony of the defense witnesses was contradicted by the prosecution\u2019s witnesses. However, in such a case the trial court is in a better position than this court to assess the credibility of the witnesses and to decide who is telling the truth. People v. Goodrich (1977), 48 Ill. App. 3d 141, 362 N.E.2d 798.\nIn addition, People v. Gilbert (1978), 58 Ill. App. 3d 387, 374 N.E.2d 739, and People v. Morgan (1977), 67 Ill. 2d 1, 364 N.E.2d 56, the two cases principally relied on by the State to support its contention that the trial court erred in ordering the statements suppressed, are distinguishable from the instant situation. In Gilbert, there is no indication that the defendant ever requested counsel or ever indicated that he did not want to give a statement. Gilbert was read his rights and then asked if he wished to give a statement. Gilbert then, without coercion of any sort, gave a statement. In Morgan, the defendant requested counsel at which point interrogation ceased. Later, while the assistant State\u2019s Attorney was attempting to obtain counsel for the defendant, a police officer visited the room in which defendant was placed and asked the defendant if he could complete his statement. After the defendant was again advised of his rights, he indicated that he did not want his attorney there because his attorney would only confuse him. Thereupon, the defendant gave an inculpatory statement. In both Gilbert and Morgan, unlike the instant situation, the defendants never asked for counsel or specifically rejected counsel. There was no evidence of coercion of any sort in those cases.\nFor the foregoing reasons, we affirm the order of the trial court suppressing the inculpatory statements.\nOrder affirmed.\nO\u2019CONNOR and CAMPBELL, JJ., concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "Mr. JUSTICE McGLOON" } ], "attorneys": [ "Bernard Carey, State\u2019s Attorney, of Chicago (Lee T. Hettinger, Rimas F. Cemius, and James V. Marcanti, Assistant State\u2019s Attorneys, of counsel), for the People.", "Michael Buckley Bolan, of Chicago, for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. ELIZABETH VAISVILAS, Defendant-Appellee.\nFirst District (1st Division)\nNo. 77-1958\nOpinion filed March 26, 1979.\nBernard Carey, State\u2019s Attorney, of Chicago (Lee T. Hettinger, Rimas F. Cemius, and James V. Marcanti, Assistant State\u2019s Attorneys, of counsel), for the People.\nMichael Buckley Bolan, of Chicago, for appellee." }, "file_name": "0018-01", "first_page_order": 40, "last_page_order": 46 }