Walker v. State

We granted the writ of certiorari in this case to review the decision of the Court of Criminal Appeals in Walker v. State,369 So.2d 814 (1978), which held an inculpatory statement may be introduced for impeachment purposes without a predicate of voluntariness where prior evidence of the circumstances surrounding the statement indicate an absence of coercive influence. We reverse.

Petitioner, Billy B. Walker, was convicted of first degree manslaughter. During the trial his statement to the sheriff "This is something that had to be done" was allowed in for impeachment purposes over petitioner's…