It was based, according to the notice and other filings, on a tape-recorded statement made by Mr. Rice to a prison informant.

In a tape-recorded statement that his lawyers played at the news conference today, he continued to maintain his innocence and described himself as a political prisoner.

But Judge Stanton said Mr. Koskovich had taken only one painkiller seven hours before his arrest and had sounded lucid and rational in a tape-recorded statement he gave.

Mr. Frame was tape-recorded making statements that he says were routine discussions to develop a common defense strategy.

He gave two written and one tape-recorded statement to investigators, the lawyer said.

But a crucial part of the case is the tape-recorded statement that Mr. Lekovic made to detectives Thursday night, the senior police official said.

The most damaging evidence against appellee was a tape-recorded statement given by Tina Traxler to the police on the evening of September 14, 1980.

Over objection, the Commonwealth was permitted to introduce the tape-recorded statement as substantive evidence, not merely to impeach Ms. Traxler's credibility.

After signing a waiver, Jones gave the police a tape-recorded statement in which he denied any knowledge of the offense.

"He was kind of banged up, I just figured he got into a fight," she told police in a tape-recorded statement last week.