SHEILA BURKE
Associated Press Writer
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled that suspects being interrogated by police must be explicit in their request for a lawyer, and not just talk about getting one, if they don’t want anything they say to be used against them.
Last week’s unanimous decision involves the statements a Rutherford County murder suspect made to Smyrna police during an interrogation.
Thomas L. Turner II repeatedly asked police when his lawyer would be present before being questioned about the murder of Tiana Klimpel. The suspect went so far as to ask for his cell phone, which had an attorney’s number.