(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court is allowing statements made to police by a former Simpson College professor accused of killing her husband to be used in court. Gowun Park called West Des Moines Police to report her husband Sung Woo Nam was not breathing. She told the officers her husband had tied himself to a chair and she later found him unresponsive. It appeared to officers he had been strangled, and during questioning, they did not immediately reveal her husband had died. They also suggested she could tell them if this happened because she had been abused. The district court and Appeals Court ruled Park had not willingly waived her right to remain silent.

The Supreme Court ruling says although Park is from Korea, she is proficient in English and understood her rights. The High Court ruling says while some tactics used may have been distasteful, officers were only trying to find out what happened, and did not coerce a confession from Park.