Court: All Defendant's Statements Admissible in Elizabeth O'Brien Murder Case

It was almost four years ago that Lake Hopatcong resident Elizabeth O’Brien was beaten and died in her home. On Thursday, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that all statements made by defendant Demetrius Diaz Bridges to police on May 2, 2008 may be used against him at the trial.

In a 3-2 opinion written by Justice Helen Hoens, the Court held that the police committed no constitutional error as the defendant’s requests to speak to his mother were not assertions of his right to remain silent, according to information released by Jeffrey Paul of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office. The Court also held the defendant’s will was not overborne by coercive police tactics, Paul said in a statement.

O’Brien was found in a closet in her home on Jan. 30, 2008., according to a story in the Daily Record. She had been beaten on the head with a weight used for fitness.

Diaz Bridges admitted hitting O’Brien after she allegedly asked him for marijuana and the two argued, the story said.

The case was moved to Union County to avoid conflict of interest since O’Brien’s brother-in-law was an employee of the Morris County Superior Court.

Union County judges at first suppressed Diaz Bridge’s statements, but an appeals court overturned part of that decision, allowing that his first confession could be used against him but suppressing a second, more formal statement, finding that Diaz Bridges clearly wanted to stop talking. The state Supreme Court agreed to hear the last appeal on the matter.

“These detectives did an excellent job securing the statement and solving this case,” said Morris County prosecutor Robert Bianchi. “We have always been prepared to try this case, either with or without the statement. I am hopeful that we can now move this case to trial as soon as possible, so the victim and her family can have their day in court.”