This section contains the nature of the case and procedural background.

Ashcraft's (D) wife was murdered. Nine days later, officers came to D's home, took him to an office in the jailhouse, put him at a table with a bright light over his head, and began to question him. This questioning started Saturday evening at 7:00 P.M. and ended at 9:30 A.M. on Monday morning, a period of over 36 hours. Although the police rotated in shifts in order to question him, D got no break from questioning. There is conflicting testimony concerning police treatment of D during the 36 hours. Eventually, D mentioned another party (Ware). Ware was picked up, and he confessed that D had hired him. When confronted with this information, D admitted it was true. When the transcript was read back to him, he would not sign the document and asked for his lawyer. D was convicted of murder due to this confession.

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