Opinion
Argued January 5, 1977
Decided February 10, 1977
Appeal from the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in the Third Judicial Department, JULIAN V.D. ORTON, J.
Thomas E. Mercure, District Attorney, for appellant.
Edward J. McMahon for respondent.
MEMORANDUM. The order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed.
The County Court suppressed certain oral and written statements made by defendant, as well as certain physical evidence secured as the result of these statements. The findings made by and the determination of the County Court have been affirmed by the Appellate Division. These findings are binding upon this court and, thus, we are required to accept them (NY Const, art VI, § 3; People v Rizzo, 40 N.Y.2d 425; People v Leonti, 18 N.Y.2d 384; Cohen and Karger, Powers of the New York Court of Appeals, § 198, p 742).
Given these findings beyond review, we are unable to say as a matter of law that the People have sustained their burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that these statements were made voluntarily (People v Huntley, 15 N.Y.2d 72). Hence, the order of the Appellate Division must be affirmed.
Chief Judge BREITEL and Judges JASEN, GABRIELLI, JONES, WACHTLER, FUCHSBERG and COOKE concur.
Order affirmed in a memorandum.