Defense Tries to Exclude Police Interview With Ailing HIt-And-Run Defendant

By Elizabeth Bernstein [former] - November 18, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Traffic | Victims |

The attorney for a traffic homicide defendant argued that his client’s interview with a police detective should be excluded from evidence before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan on Nov. 15 

Spiro Stafilatos, 37, is charged with second-degree murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and fleeing from a law enforcement officer for an hit-and-run incident that occurred on Dec. 30, 2022 on the 1400 block of New York Avenue, NW. The incident resulted in the death of 31-year-old Shuyu Sui and severe injury to another individual. 

According to court documents, Stafilatos sped away from a traffic stop, ran a red light and collided with a car. As a result of the collision, Stafilatos’ vehicle spun into the crosswalk and allegedly hit Sui and the other victim while they were crossing the street. 

According to both parties, Stafilatos received medical treatment at a hospital and then was interviewed by law enforcement. 

The prosecution opposed the defense’s motion to suppress statements from the interview and called the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective who conducted the interview as a witness. The detective viewed a screenshot of surveillance footage from the interview and confirmed it was his.

Stafilatos’s attorney, Brian McDaniel, asked the detective if he remembered Stafilatos telling him he was “not okay” at the beginning of the interview. The detective affirmed he recalled Stafilatos saying this, and McDaniel asked the detective if he did anything about Stafilatos not feeling well. The detective responded that he did not.

McDaniel argued Stafilatos’s statements during the interview should be suppressed because the detective conducted the interview despite being aware Stafilatos was out of the hospital after a serious car accident and was not okay. McDaniel also argued Stafilatos could not be fully aware of his rights in this situation

The prosecution disagreed that Stafilatos, citing that he was read his Miranda rights against self-incrimination during the interview. The prosecution argued there is no basis for suppression because Stafilatos was volunteering information and not being interrogated. According to the prosecution, Stafilatos’ statements were not made in response to questions from the detective, but were unprovoked and voluntary.

Judge Raffinan informed the parties she will rule on the motion at the next hearing.

Parties are set to reconvene on Nov. 26.