PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - A law enforcement officer wasn’t trying to secure a confession when he punched a suspect who was being arrested in the killing of a sheriff’s deputy, a judge concluded Friday in allowing part of a police interview to be used at the man’s upcoming trial for murder.
John Williams voluntarily spoke to police for about 90 minutes after his arrest, Justice Robert E. Mullen ruled, and that part is admissible at the June trial. But the interview after that point cannot be used because he complained of being tired and appeared to doze off several times, Mullen ruled.
Williams is charged with the April 25, 2018, killing of Cpl. Eugene Cole, the first police officer to be killed in the line of duty in nearly 30 years in Maine.
A massive manhunt ensued, and Williams was captured several days after the shooting in Norridgewock. He was shirtless, shoeless and exhausted.
The defense contends Williams had been beaten and was tired, hungry and suffering from drug withdrawal when he waived his right to consult an attorney and confessed to police.
The judge concluded that Williams was punched once after he was handcuffed during the chaotic moments of the arrest and was later taunted by arresting officers. But the judge said he made no finding whether the blow to the head was a deliberate “sucker punch.”
“The court finds that the violence at the site in the woods where the defendant was apprehended was not inflicted to secure a confession,” the judge wrote.
Rejecting Williams’ claim that he was “beat and pummeled,” the judge found no evidence Williams was fearful or showing outward signs of drug withdrawal.
But the judge found that the police interview ceased to be voluntary after Williams told officers he was tired and appeared to doze several times. That part of the interview, including a reenactment of the shooting, cannot be used at his trial, the judge ruled.
Defense attorney Verne Paradie said Friday that the judge’s ruling was a victory because the reenactment was a “significantly prejudicial piece” of the interview that won’t be seen by jurors.
He said that he disagrees with the judge’s conclusion that Williams wasn’t kicked and beaten and that he looks forward to presenting Williams’ version of events to the jury.
A spokesman said the attorney general’s office “respects the decision” but had no further comment.
The ruling came one day after the anniversary of Cole’s death. On Thursday, communities across the state held a moment of silence. The town of Norridgewock held a food drive in his honor, and town leaders encouraged people to give back to the community to honor Cole.
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