Although the memorandum does not raise any new arguments, it outlines Baye's case in meticulous detail.
Anthony Baye (r) with lawyers Thomas Lesser and David P. Hoose.NORTHAMPTON – Anthony P. Baye’s defense team has laid out its arguments to suppress evidence in his arson case in a 64-page memorandum to Judge Constance Sweeney.
Baye’s lawyers want to exclude from trial evidence gathered during a Jan. 4, 2010 police interview with Baye, arguing that he was denied his right to a lawyer by the state police troopers who interrogated him. In the interview, Baye can be seen admitting that he set some of the 15 fires that terrified Northampton in the early hours of Dec. 27, 2009. Two men, Paul Yeskie and his son, Paul Yeskie, Jr., died in one of those fires. Baye faces two counts of first degree murder for their deaths in addition to numerous other charges stemming from the fires.
Although the memorandum does not raise any new arguments, it outlines Baye’s case in meticulous detail, sometimes quoting minute by minute from the nearly 10-hour interview. It makes frequent reference to interviewing techniques used by trooper Michael Mazza and Sgt. Paul Zipper, saying the officers misled Baye by minimizing the fires, assuring him they would be treated as accidents if he admitted that he was “goofing off.”
The prosecution is due to file its response next week, after which Sweeney will render her ruling.