369 A.2d 201
No. 7563Supreme Court of New Hampshire Grafton
Decided January 31, 1977
1. Appeal and Error — Scope of Review — Credibility of Witnesses The defendant’s various allegations of the arresting officer’s perjury during the trial involve facts unrelated to the merits of the case, and although some of the officer’s statements could be found to be erroneous, it was for the trial court to pass upon the credibility of the witnesses, to resolve conflicts, and to decide whether, with relation to the essential and relevant facts, the state had met its burden of proof.
2. Constitutional Law — Miranda Warning — Sanctions The Miranda warning requirement is a precondition to questioning only, and failure to give the warning results not in acquittal, but in exclusion of any statements obtained in response to questions prior to the giving of the warning.
David H. Souter, attorney general and Richard B. Michaud, attorney, by brief for the state.
Delwood Smith, by brief, pro se.
PER CURIAM.
Defendant was convicted in a jury-waived trial for driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, second offense, contrary to RSA 262-A:62 (Supp. 1975). Defendant’s exceptions were transferred by Johnson, J.
[1] Defendant contends that the arresting officer committed perjury during the trial and points to various places in the transcript where the officer stated “I don’t recall,” and where he made statements which were contrary to defendant’s version of the facts. The various examples given by defendant involve facts unrelated to the merits of the case. Although some of the statements could be found to be erroneous, it was for the trial court to pass upon the credibility of the witnesses, to resolve conflicts, and to decide whether, with relation to the essential and relevant facts, the state had met its burden of proof. State v. Underwood,Page 78
110 N.H. 413, 415, 270 A.2d 599, 601 (1970). We cannot say that the evidence did not support the verdict.
[2] Defendant further argues that he should be acquitted because he was not given the Miranda warnings, Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966), until after he had been taken to the police station. He argues that he was deprived of his liberty when he was placed under arrest at the scene and was entitled to be given the warnings at that time. However, the Miranda warning requirement is a precondition to questioning only. Failure to comply results not in acquittal, but in exclusion of any statements obtained. Because no statements were obtained in response to questions between the time of arrest and the giving of the warnings, any failure to give the warnings earlier is irrelevant.Exceptions overruled.