The drug trafficker’s confession inclusion as evidence in a trial

The drug trafficker’s confession inclusion as evidence in a trial

Mike asks him if he is the main dealer of the drugs in this case, and he confesses that he is. Mike asks who the shooter was, and the trafficker identifies him as John Smith—a drug dealer who threatened him earlier for selling drugs in Smith’s territory.

The informant tells Mike that he is sure that John Smith was the shooter, even though he had already left the hotel room when Smith entered it. The drug trafficker was not advised of his rights prior to telling Mike that he was the local dealer.

Thanks to the quick response time of the EMTs and an extremely skilled surgical team, the drug trafficker survives the shooting.

• If you were the prosecutor, what argument would you make to include the drug trafficker’s confession in the trial?
• If you were a defense lawyer, what argument would you make in order to suppress the drug trafficker’s confession?
• Do you think the testimony of the informant (the shooter must be John Smith) would be admissible in court? Explain your answer.