Judge denies motion to suppress statements in Marion murder

A motion to suppress statements made to police by a Marion man accused of beating to death Daniel Meade in 2008 was denied today by a judge.

Kim Polley, 42, of Marion, charged with second-degree murder, asked the court to suppress his statements because he asked for a lawyer after he was arrested Dec. 15, the day after Meade, 50, of Hiawatha, was found dead at a home in Marion.

Sixth Judicial Judge Marsha Beckelman ruled the detectives didn't ask Polley any questions about the murder investigation after Polley said he wanted an attorney. Polley volunteered statements about his innocence and carried on and initiated conversations with the detectives on various topics, she said.

In a taped interview Polley told detectives he didn't know Meade had died and then said he couldn't believe Meade died from anything other than a heart attack, according to the ruling. Polley said he and Meade had an altercation on Dec. 14 but he didn't do anything that would have killed Meade. He also said “I don't know how I'll prove my innocence.”

Beckelman only suppressed one statement made by Polley regarding where he was going when police picked him up that night. The statement can't be used in trial because Polley had already asked for an attorney and it was a direct question about the investigation by a detective, she said.

Polley's trial is set for June 7.