State v. Johnson

Ruffin, Chief Judge.

A grand jury indicted Sarah Brooke Johnson for first degree arson and reckless conduct. Johnson subsequently moved to suppress several statements she gave to police. Finding that her incriminating statements were not voluntary, the trial court granted Johnson’s motion. The State appeals, and for reasons that follow, we affirm.

Under Georgia law,

[w]hen a trial judge has made a determination as to the voluntariness of a confession after a suppression hearing, such determination must be accepted by the appellate courts unless his decision is clearly erroneous. Likewise,…