In th e S u p re m e Co u rt o f Ge o rg ia

De c id e d: Ju ly 1 1 , 2 0 1 4

S 1 4 A0 5 6 3 . HEARD v . THE S T A TE.

NAHMIAS , Ju stic e

.

De rric k He a rd a

p p e a ls h is c o n v ic tio n fo r th e m u rd e r o f Ro b e rt Le d

b e tte r.

Ap p e lla n t c o n te n d s th a t h is co n s t itu tio n a l rig h t to a sp e e d y tria l wa s v io la te d ;

th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d b y a llo win g two o f th e S ta te ’s p e re m p to ry strik e s; a n d

th a t th e c o u rt e rre d by p re ve n tin g him fro m in tro d u c in g c e rta in e v id e n c e a b o u t

Le d b e tte r. We a ffirm

. 1

1 L edbetter was killed o n A ug ust 11, 2003. On Aug u st 1 9, 2003, Appellant w as arrested f or

murder, and on November 13, 2003, a DeKalb County g rand jury indicted him for malice murder,

felony murder, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony

. On May 9, 2005, the

trial court filed a nolle pros order dismissing the ind i c t m e n t

. O n October 27, 2009, a fter further

investig ation, A ppellant was a g ain arrested f or murder, and on No vember 29, 2009, a DeKalb

C o u n t y g rand jury indicted h im for malice murder, felony murder, ag g ravated assault, and poss e s s i o n

of a firearm during the commission of a felony

. Appellant’s trial beg an on J une 7

, 2010. B efore jury

selection, the trial court dismissed the non-murder charg es based on the statute of limitations. On

J une 11, the jury

found Appellant g uilty of malice murder and felony murder. The felony murder

verdict was v acated by operation of law, an d t h e c o u r t sentenced Appellant to life in prison f or

m al i ce murder. A ppellant f iled a motion for new trial on J uly 8, 2010, w hich he a m e n d e d o n

September 26, 2011. After an evidentiary hearing

, the trial court entered an o r der deny ing the

motion on November 29, 2011, and on December 2 0, 2011, A ppellant f iled a n otice o f appeal to this

Court.

On F ebruary 13, 2 012, Appellant re v o k e d his prior o ral waiver of h is appellate counsel’s

conflict of interest and requested the appointment of conflict-free counsel; that same d a y

, he filed

a motion to remand the case to raise claims of ineffective assistance of trial counsel. On F ebruary

27, 2012, this Court entered a n order g ranting the motion, dismissing the a ppeal, and remanding the

case to the trial court “ for the limited pu r p o s e r aised in such motion.” Conflict-free counsel was1

. Th e e v id e n c e a t tria l, v ie we d in th e l ig h t m o st fa v o ra b le to th e

v e rd ic t, sh o we d th e fo llo win g

. In 2 00 0, Ro b e rt Le d b e tte r wa s in De tro it

wo rk in g fo r a re c o rd c o m pa n y

, wh e re h e m e t a sp irin g h ip -h o p a rtists F a rla n d is

Dilla rd a n d E m e ry Lo ve

. Dilla rd a n d Lo v e le ft th e re c ord la b e l in 2 0 0 1

, a n d

Dilla rd m o v e d to P h o e n ix

, ta k in g a jo b a s a m a ll se c u rity gu ard

. In Ju ly 2 0 0 3

,

Lo v e ra n in to Le d

b e tte r, w h o h a d a lso le ft th e re c o rd c o m pa n y a n d m o v e d a wa y

b u t wa s b a c k in De tro it fo r a v isit. Le d be tte r t a lk e d to L o v e a

bo ut m u sic

o p p ortu n itie s in Atla nta , wh e re Le d b e tte r wa s m o v in g

.

At Le d be tte r’ s r eq u e st, Lo v e c a lle d Dilla rd a n d c o n v in c e d h im to m o v e

to Atla n ta to p u rsu e th e ir m usic c a re e r with Le d

b e tte r’s h e lp

. Dilla rd a rra n g e d

a jo b tra n sfe r to a m a ll in Atla n ta a n d to o k a b u s to D e tro it to m e e t u p with Lo v e

a n d Le d b e tte r. Le d

b e tte r a n d Dilla rd th e n to ok a b u s to Atla n ta

, b u t Lo ve sta y e d

b e h in d fo r a wh ile

. Wh e n Le d b e tte r a n d Dilla rd a rriv e d in Atla n ta

, Ap p e lla n t,

wh o Le d b e tte r sa id wa s h is c o u sin

, p ic k e d th e m u p fro m th e b u s sta tio n a n d

appointed, and Appellant amended his new trial motion on May 22, 2012, a n d a ga i n o n May 16,

2013. A t a h ea r i ng on J uly 18, 2013, Appellant affirmatively waived any claims of ineffective

assistance o f trial counsel, and on Aug ust 16, 2013, the trial court entered an order deny ing the new

trial motion as amended. On September 24, 2013, Appellant filed a motion for o ut-of-time appeal,

which the trial court g ranted on October 2, 2013. O n October 2 2, 2013, Appellant filed a notice of

appeal, and the case was d ocketed in this Court for the J anuary 2014 Term and submitted f or

decision on the briefs.

2d ro v e th e m to a n a p a rtm e n t c o m

p le x

, b u t th e y we re n o t a ble t o l e a s e a n

a p a rtm e nt th e re

. Ap p e lla nt sa id th a t Le d b e tte r a n d Dilla rd c o u ld sta y w ith h im

fo r a fe w d a y s u n til th e y fo u n d a n a p a rtm e n t.

A p p e l l a n t liv e d in a h o u se with h is e x-wife

, L itic ia He a rd (Ms. He a rd )

,

a n d th e ir 1 2 -y e a r-o ld so n

. Le d b e tte r a n d Dilla rd sta y e d th e re fo r a fe w we e k s,

a s th e y we re u n a

b le to se c u re a n a

p a rtm e n t. D illa rd u ltim a te ly d e c id e d to re tu rn

t o P h o en i x a s so o n a s he re c e iv e d h is la st pa y c h e c k fro m h is jo b th e re

, te llin g

L o v e o n th e te le p h o n e th a t th in g s “fe ll th ro u g h ” in Atla n ta a n d n ot to c om e

d o wn

.

On th e a fte rn o o n of A u g u st 1 1

, 2 0 0 3

, Dilla rd ’s la st p a y c h e c k fro m h is

P h o e nix jo b fin a lly a rriv e d

, a n d h e c o n firm e d t h a t t h e re wa s a b u s le a v in g fo r

P h o e nix t h a t n ig h t. Ap p e lla n t a g re e d to ta k e Dilla rd to th e b u s sta tio n

, a n d

D i l l a r d pa c k e d h is th in g s. Th a t e v e n in g

, Ap p e lla n t a n d Le d b e tte r g o t in t o a n

a rg u m e n t, a n d Le d

b e tte r p u sh e d Ap p e lla n t a n d th e n we n t u p sta irs. Ap p e lla n t

wa s a n g ry a n d fo llo we d Le d b e tte r t o th e b otto m o f th e sta irs b ut sto p p e d

.

Dilla rd we n t d o wn to th e b a se m e n t t o g i v e Ap p e lla n t tim e to c oo l o ff, b u t

Ap p e lla n t wa s still u p se t a n h o u r l a t e r wh e n h e c a m e d o w n to th e b a se m e n t,

te l l i n g D i l la rd

, “ I’m g o in g to F y o u r b o y u p .” Ap p e lla n t a n d Dilla rd wa tc h e d

3te le v isio n f

o r a wh ile

, a nd L e d

b e tte r e v e n tu a lly jo in e d th e m

. As th e e v e n in g

n e ws w a s e n d in g

, A p p e l l a n t to ld D illa rd to go u p sta irs a n d m a k e su re th a t h e

h a d a ll h is th in g s p a c ke d , a n d Dilla rd d id so

.

Te n o r 1 5 m in u te s la te r, Dilla rd c a m e b a c k d o wn to th e b a se m e nt. Wh e n

h e re a c h e d th e b o tt o m of th e sta irs, h e sa w Le d b e tte r, wh o wa s ly in g o n th e

c o u c h o n h is b a c k

, ro ll o v e r o n to h is sid e to fa c e th e c o u c h

, te llin g A p p e l la n t,

“ F y o u .” Dilla rd th e n sa w Ap p e lla n t sh oo t Le d b e tte r th re e tim e s in th e h e a d

with a h a n d g u n

. Rig h t a fte r th a t, Dilla rd h e a rd Ap p e lla n t’s so n c o m e in th e d o o r

u p sta irs, a n d A p p e lla n t o rd e re d Dilla rd to g o u p a n d k e e p h is so n fro m c o m in g

d o wn to th e b a se m e n t. Dilla rd we n t u p sta irs a n d sp o ke to th e so n

, wh o le ft fo r

a frie n d’s h o use a fe w m i n u t e s la te r. Dilla rd th e n re tu rn e d to th e b a se m e n t,

wh e re h e sa w th a t Ap p e lla n t h a d ro lle d up Le db e tte r’s b o d y in a la rg e flo o r ru g

se c u re d with d u c t ta

p e

. Ap p e lla n t to ld Dilla rd to go u psta irs a n d re trie v e b le a c h

fro m u n de r th e k itc h e n sin k

. Dilla rd c o mp lie d

, an d h e sto o d b y sile n tly a s

Ap p e lla n t c le a n e d b lo o d o ff th e wa ll in th e b a se m e n t.

A p p e lla n t th e n o rd e re d Dilla rd to h e lp him d isp o se o f th e b o d y

, wh ic h

th e y m o v e d with a wh e e lb a rro w to th e b a c k o f Ap p e lla n t’s v a n

. Afte r th a t, M s.

He a rd c a m e h om e

, a n d Ap p e lla n t a n d Dilla rd le ft in th e v a n a fe w m in u te s la te r.

4Th e y sto p p e d a t a g a s sta tio n a b o u t a m ile a w a y a n d th e n a t a c h e c k c a sh in g

sto re so th a t D illa rd w o u ld h a v e m o n e y to b uy h is b u s tic k e t b a c k to Ph o e n ix

.

Ap p e lla n t th e n dro v e to th e p a rk in g lo t o f an a b a n d on e d b u ild in g

, wh e re h e a n d

Dilla rd d u m

p e d th e b o d y a fte r Ap p e lla n t d o u se d th e ru g c o n t a i n in g th e b o d y

with g a so lin e a n d lit it o n fire

. As th e y d ro v e a w a y

, Ap p e lla n t wa rn e d Dilla rd

n o t to te ll a n y o ne a

b o u t wh a t h a d h a

p p e n e d

, sa y in g

, “

ju st ta k e th is s* *t to y o u r

g r av e

. ” Ap p e lla n t d ro pp e d Dilla rd o ff a t th e b u s sta tio n

, a n d Dilla rd re tu rn e d

to P h o e n ix

. Ap p e lla nt to ld Ms. He a rd wh e n h e g o t h o m e th a t h e h a d d ro p p e d

o ff b o th Le d

b e tte r a n d Dilla rd a t th e b u s sta tio n

.

L e d b e tte r’s sm o u ld e rin g re m a in s we re d isc o v e re d th e n e x t m o rn in g

.

Re sp o n d in g o ffic e rs fo u n d a re tu rn a d d re ss la b e l fo r Ms. He a rd n e a rb y a n d

re c o v e re d th re e sh e ll c a sin g s fro m Le d b e tte r’s p o c ke t. An a

u to p sy re v e a le d th a t

Le d b e tte r d ie d fro m th re e g u n s h o t wo un d s to th e h e a d

. Th e fo llo win g d a y

,

Au g ust 1 3

, o ffic e rs we n t to Ms. He a rd ’s h o u se

. Ap p e lla n t wa s th e re wh e n th e

o ffic e rs a rriv e d b u t le ft on fo o t wh ile Ms. He ard we n t to m e e t th e o ffic e rs a t th e

d o o r; he d id n o t c om e h o m e th a t n i g h t

. M s

. He a rd in v ite d th e o ffic e rs in sid e

,

wh e re th e y sa w p a c ke d lu gg a g e in th e k itc h e n

. Ms. He a rd sa id th a t sh e d id n o t

k n o w w h o se b a g s th e y we re a n d h a d n o t se e n th e m u ntil sh e we n t to th e d o o r to

5m e e t th e o ffic e rs. Ms. H e a rd c o n se n te d to a se a rc h

, an d sh e a n d h e r so n

id e n tifie d a n ite m fro m

th e lu g g a g e a s b e lo n g in g to Le d be tte r.

Th e o ffic e rs th e n o b ta in e d a se a rc h wa rra nt f o r th e h o u se an d fo r th e

v e h ic le s sh a re d b y Ap p e lla n t a n d Ms. He ard

. B lo o d sa m p le s fro m th e c ou c h a n d

c a rp e t in th e b a se m e n t we re m a tc h e d to Le db e tte r, a n d th e th re e b u lle ts

re c o v e re d fro m h i s s k u ll we re m a tc he d to a g un re g iste re d to M s. He a rd th a t

o ffic e rs fo u n d in th e tru n k o f o n e o f th e c a rs th a t sh e an d Ap p e lla nt sh a re d

. Ga s

c a n s a n d b u lle ts fo r th e g u n we re a lso fo u n d a t th e h o u se

.

A m o n th o r so a fte r Le d

b e tte r wa s k ille d

, L o ve m o ve d to P h oe n ix

. Wh e n

Lo v e a sk e d Dilla rd w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d in Atla n ta

, Dilla rd sa id th a t h e sa w

Ap p e lla n t sh o o t a

n d k il l Le d

b e tte r a n d th a t Ap p e lla nt th e n fo rc e d h im to h e lp

d isp o se o f th e b o d y

. Dilla rd a n d Lo v e te stifie d a t A p p e lla n t’s tria l, a s d id Ms.

He a rd

.

Wh e n v ie we d in th e lig h t m ost fa v o ra b le t o t h e v e rd ic t, th e e v id e n c e

p re se nte d a t tria l a n d su m m a riz e d a b o v e wa s su ffic ie n t t o a

u th o riz e a ra tio n a l

ju ry to fin d Ap p e lla n t gu ilty be y o n d a re a so n a b le d o u b t o f m a lic e m

u rd e r. S e e

Ja c k so n v

. Virg in ia

, 4 4 3 U .S

. 3 0 7

, 3 1 9 (9 9 S Ct 2 7 8 1

, 61 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 79 ). S e e

a lso V e g a v

. Sta te

, 2 8 5 Ga

. 3 2

, 3 3 (6 7 3 S E2 d 2 2 3 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (“ ‘It wa s fo r th e ju ry

6to de te rmi n e t h e c r e d ib ility o f th e witn e sse s a n d to re so lv e a n y c o n flic ts o r

in c o nsiste nc ie s in th e e v id e n c e .’” (c ita tio n o m itte d )).

2

. Ap pe lla n t c o n te n d s th a t th e S ta te v io la te d h is c o nstitu tio na l rig h t to

a sp e e d y tria l a nd th e tria l c o u rt th e re f o r e e r re d in d e n y in g h is Ap ril 2 9

, 2 0 1 0

m o tio n to d ism iss th e se c o n d in d ic tm e n t. We d isa g re e

.

(a ) Co nstitu tio n a l s p e e d y t r i a l c l a i m s a

r e e v a l u at e d u n d e r th e two

p a rt fra m e wo rk se t o u t in B a rk e r v

. Win go

, 4 0 7 U.S

. 5 1 4 (9 2 S C t 2 1 8 2

, 3 3

LE2 d 1 0 1 ) (1 9 7 2 ), a n d re fin e d in Do gg e tt v

. Un ite d S ta te s, 5 0 5 U.S

. 6 4 7 (1 1 2

S Ct 2 68 6

, 1 2 0 LE2 d 5 2 0 ) (1 9 9 2 ). S e e Ru ffin v. S ta te

, 2 8 4 Ga

. 52

, 5 5 (6 6 3

S E2 d 18 9 ) (2 0 0 8 )

. Th e first p a rt re q u ire s th e tria l c o urt to d e te rm in e wh e th e r

th e tim e b e twe e n th e d e fe n d a n t’s a rre st o r in d ic tm e n t a n d h is tria l wa s lo n g

e n o u g h to b e c o n sid e re d p re su m ptiv e ly pre

ju d ic ia l to th e d e fe n d a n t. S e e id

. If

th e p re su m

p tiv e p re ju dic e th re sh o ld w a s c ro sse d

, th e c o u rt p ro c e e d s to th e

se c o nd p a rt o f th e fra m e wo rk

, a p p ly in g “ a c on te x t-fo c u se d

, fo u r-fa c to r

b a la n c in g te st to d e te rm in e w h e th e r [th e d e f e n d a n t] wa s d e n ie d th e rig h t to a

sp e e dy tria l.” S w e a tm a n v

. S t a te

, 2 8 7 Ga

. 8 7 2

, 8 7 3 (7 0 0 SE2 d 57 9 ) (2 0 1 0 ).

Th e fo u r fa c to rs t h a t th e c o u rt m u st e x a m in e a re : (1 ) th e le n g th o f th e d e la y ;

(2 ) th e re a so n s fo r it; (3 ) th e d e fe n d a n t’s a sse rtio n of h is rig h t to a sp e e d y tria l;

7a n d (4 ) p re

ju d ic e to th e de fe n d a nt. S e e Do g g e tt, 5 0 5 U.S . a t 6 5 1; Ba rk e r, 4 0 7

U.S

. a t 5 3 0 -5 3 2

. Ho we v e r, th e se fo u r fa c to rs h a v e “n o ta lism a n ic q u a litie s” a n d

“ m u st b e c o n sid e re d to g e th e r with su c h oth e r c irc u m sta nc e s a s m a y b e re le v a n t”

in lig ht of th e a n im a tin g prin c ip le s o f t h e sp e e dy tria l g u a ra nte e

. Ba rk e r, 4 0 7

U.S . a t 5 3 3

.

Th e Ba rk e r-Do g g e tt fra m e wo rk “ ‘n e c e ssa rily c o m p e ls c o urts to a

p p ro a c h

sp e e dy tria l c a se s o n a n a d h o c b a sis,’ a ta sk b e tte r su ite d to tria l c o u rts th a n

a p p e lla te c o u rts.” S we a tm a n

, 2 87 Ga

. a t 87 3-8 7 4 (q u o tin g Ba rk e r, 40 7 U.S

. a t

5 3 0 ). A tria l c o u rt’s d isc re tio n in a p p ly in g th is fra m e wo rk is “ ‘su b sta n tia l’ a n d

‘b ro a d ,’” a n d ou r re v ie w o f th e tria l c o u rt’s re so lu tio n o f a sp e e d y tria l c la im is

lim ite d to d e te rm in in g wh et h e r th e c o u rt a b u se d its d isc re tio n. Se e S ta te v

.

Bu c k ne r, 2 9 2 Ga

. 3 9 0

, 3 9 1 & n .3 (7 3 8 SE2 d 6 5 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (c ita tio ns o m itte d ). We

m u st a c c e p t th e c o u rt’s fin din g s o f fa c t if th e re c o rd c o n ta in s a n y e v id e n c e to

su p p o rt th e m

, a n d we will de fe r to th e c o u rt’s “ u ltim a te c o n c lu sio n

. . . u n le ss

it a m o u n ts to a n a

b u se of d isc re tio n

, e ve n th o u g h we m ig h t h a v e re a c h e d a

d iffe re n t c o n c lu sio n we re th e issu e c o m m itte d to o u r d isc re tio n .” Id . a t 3 9 1

.

(b ) Th e re c ord sh o ws th a t th e p ro se c u tio n o f th is c a se p ro c e e d e d

a s fo llo w s. Ap pe lla n t wa s first arre ste d fo r Le db e tte r’s m u rd e r o n Au g u st 1 9

,

82 0 0 3. He wa s in d ic te d o n No ve m b e r 1 3

, 2 0 0 3

, a nd re le a se d on bo nd o n Oc to b e r

1 6

, 2 0 0 4

. At a h e a rin g o n Ma y 3

, 2 0 0 5

, th e S ta te p re se n te d a n ord e r to n o l l e

p ro s th e in d ic tm e nt; Ap p e lla n t o b j e ct e d

, b u t th e tria l c o u rt sig n e d th e o rd e r,

wh ic h wa s th e n file d o n Ma y 9

. Th e d a y a fte r th e n o lle p ro s o rd e r wa s sig n e d

,

Ap p e lla n t file d a n o u t-o f-tim e sta tu to ry sp e e d y tria l d e m a n d

. Mo re th a n two

y e a rs la te r, o n Ju ly 2 0

, 2 0 0 7

, th e Sta te re sp o n d e d to Ap p e lla n t’s d e m a nd

, wh ic h

th e tria l c o u rt d e n ie d a s m o ot o n Au g ust 2 3 , 2 0 0 7

.

In No ve m b e r 2 0 0 7

, a ju v e n ile c o u rt in v e stig a to r re vie we d th e c a se file in

h is sp a re tim e a t th e p ro se c u to r’s re q u e st. Usin g in fo rm a tio n in th e c a se file

, th e

in v e stig a to r c ame u p with th e n a m e “ F a rla n d is Gu s Dilla rd ,” a n d he w a s la te r

a b le to fin d D illa rd ’s c u rre nt a d d re ss in P h o e nix

. Th e in v e stig a to r ob t a in e d a

p h o to o f Dilla rd a

n d sh o w e d it to Ap p e lla n t’s so n

, wh o c on firm e d th a t th e m a n

in th e p h o to wa s th e p e rso n w h o s t a ye d with Le db e tte r a t Ap p e lla n t’s h om e

b e fo re Le b e tte r’s m

urd e r. In Au g u st 2 0 0 9

, th e in v e stig a to r fle w to P h o e n ix a n d

in te rv ie we d Dilla rd

, wh o im plic a te d Ap pe lla n t in th e m u rd e r. On Oc to b e r 2 7

,

2 0 0 9, Ap p e lla n t wa s a g a in a r r e s t e d f o r m u rd e r, a n d h e wa s in d ic te d a g a in o n

No v e m be r 2 9 , 2 00 9

.

On Ja n u a ry 4, 2 0 1 0

, th e tria l c o u rt d e nie d A p p e lla n t’s m o tio n fo r b o n d

,

9a n d h e wa s a rra ig n e d o n Ap ril 2 6, 2 0 1 0 . OnAp ril 2 9 , 2 0 1 0

, Ap p e lla nt file d a

m o tio n to d ism iss th e se c o n d in d ic tm e n t d u e to th e S ta te ’s a lle g e d v io la tio n o f

h is c on stitu tio n a l rig h t to a sp e e d y tria l. T h e tria l c ou rt d e nie d th e m o tio n a fte r

a n e v id e n tia ry h e a rin g b e fo re ju ry se le c tio n o n th e first d a y o f th e tria l, Ju n e 7

,

2 0 1 0.

(c ) Co n tra ry to Ap p e lla n t’s a rg u m e n t, th e tria l c o u rt did n o t e rr

b y lim itin g th e sp e e dy tria l in q u iry to th e a p p ro x im a te ly 2 8 m o nth s wh e n

c h a rg e s we re a c tu a lly p e n d in g a g a in st h im

. 2 “ [T] h e S p e e dy Tria l Cla u se h a s n o

a p p lic a tio n a fte r th e Go v e rn m e n t, a c tin g in g o o d fa ith

, fo rm a lly d ro p s c h a rg e s.”

Un ite d S ta te s v

. Ma c D o n a ld

, 4 5 6 U .S

. 1

, 7 (1 0 2 S C t 1 4 9 7

, 7 1 LE2 d 6 9 6 )

(1 9 8 2 ). 3 It is c le a r th a t th e S ta te a c te d in g o o d fa ith in th is c a se wh e n it a sk e d

2 The 2 8 months is composed of the 20 months and 20 day s from Appellant’s first murder

arrest in Aug

ust 2003 to the May 2005 entry of the nolle pros order, plus the seven months and 11

day s from his second murder arrest in October 2009 to his J une 2010 trial.

3 I n MacDonald, the United States Supreme Court considered whether the time b etween the

dismissal of military c h arg e s and a subsequent indictment on c ivilian criminal c harg es for the same

crimes should be included in deciding whether a defendant’s constitutional rig h t to a speedy trial was

viol a t e d

. See 4 56 U .S. a t 3. T he Court said no. See id. a t 6

. T h e Court discussed the periods of

time to which the speedy

trial g uarantee applies as follows:

The Six th Amendment provides that “[ i] n all criminal prosecutions, the a ccused shall

enjoy the r ig ht to a speedy a nd public trial.

. . .” A literal reading of the Amendment

sug g ests that this rig ht attaches only w hen a formal criminal charg e is instituted a nd

a criminal prosecution beg ins. I n United States v. Marion, we held that the Speedy

Trial Clause

. . . does not apply to the period before a defendant is indicted, arrested,

1 0th e c o u rt to n o lle p ro s th e first in d ic tm e n t. Ra th e r th an im pro p e rly “ d ism iss[in g ]

a n d la te r re in stitu t[in g] c h a rg e s to e v a d e th e sp e e d y tria l g u a ra n te e ,” i d

. a t 1 0

n .1 2

, t h e r e c o rd sh ows th a t th e Sta te so u gh t to d ism iss th e first in d ic tm e n t

b e c a use it d o u b te d th a t it h a d su ffic ie nt e v id e n c e to c o n v ic t Ap p e lla n t, a n d

a rre ste d h im a g a in o n ly a fte r o b ta in in g n e w e v id e n c e fro m th e o nly e y e witn e ss

to th e m u rd e r.

Th u s, th e d e la y a t issu e in t h i s c a se wa s th e 28 m o n th s e xa m in e d b y th e

tria l c ou rt, a n d we w i l l a s s u me with o u t de c id in g th a t th is p e rio d “ c ro sse d th e

th re sh o ld d iv id in g o rd in a ry fro m ‘p re su m

p tiv e ly p re

ju d ic ia l’ d e la y .” Do g g e tt,

5 0 5 U .S

. a t 6 5 1

- 6 5 2 (c ita tio n o m itte d ). W e th e re fo re p ro c e e d

, a s d id th e tria l

c o u rt, to th e se c o n d p a rt o f th e Ba rk e r-Do g g e tt fra m e wo rk

.

(d ) Th e tria l c o u rt m a d e n o e x p re ss fin d in g re g ard in g “ th e e x te n t

o r o t h e r wise officially accused

. . . . I n addition to the p eriod after indictmen t

, t h e

period between arrest an d i ndictment must be considered in evaluating a Speedy Trial

Clause c laim. Althoug h dela y prior to arrest or indictment may g ive rise to a d ue

process claim under the F ifth Am e n d m e n t

, see United States v. L ovasco, o r to a

claim und e r an y a p plicable statutes of limitations, no Six th Amendment rig ht to a

speedy trial arises until charg es are pending

. Similarly

, the Speedy Trial Clause has

no appli cation a fter the Government, acting in g ood faith, formally drops charg es.

Any undue d elay after charg es are dismissed, like any delay b e fore charg es are filed,

must be scrutiniz ed under the Due Process Clause, not the Speedy Trial Clause.

MacDonald, 456 U.S. at 6-8 (citations omitted).

1 1to wh ic h th e [2 8 -m o n th ] d e la y stre tc h e [d ] b e y o n d th e b a re m in im u m n e e d e d to

trig g e r ju d ic ia l e xa m in a tio n o f [Ap p e lla n t’s sp e e d y tria l] c la im .” Do g g e tt, 5 0 5

U.S . a t 6 5 2 . Ho w e v e r,

[a ] d e la y a

p p ro a c h in g o n e y e a r is su ffic ie n t in m o st c a se s to ra ise a

p re su m p tio n of p re

ju d ic e a n d to wa rra n t a

m o re se a rc h in g in q u iry

. . . , k e e p in g in m in d t h a t “ t h e d e la y th a t c an b e to le ra te d in a

p a rtic u la r c a se d e p e nd s to so m e e x te nt o n th e c om p le x ity a n d

se rio u sn e ss o f th e c ha rg e s in th a t c a se .”

S ta te v

. Ale x a nd e r,

_

_ _ Ga

.

_ _ _ ,

_ _ _ (7 5 8 S E2 d 28 9, 2 9 2 -2 93 ) (2 01 4) (c ita tio n

o m itte d ). Th u s, th e l en g t h o f d e la y we ig h e d a t th e se c o n d p art o f th e Ba rk e rDo g ge tt fra m e wo rk e x te n d e d b e y o n d th e o n e -y e a r m a rk b y a t m o st 1 6 m o n th s.

Ap p e lla n t a n d th e S ta te a g re e th a t th e p rin c ip a l re a so n fo r th e d e la y wa s

th e S ta te ’s fa ilu re to id e n tify a n d lo c a te th e m an w h o sta y e d with Le db e tte r a t

Ap p e lla n t’s h om e fo r se v e ra l we e k s b e fo re th e m u rd e r a nd le ft on th e n ig h t th e

v ic tim wa s kille d

. T h e re is n o d isp u te th a t th is in d iv id ua l, w h o wa s la te r

id e n t ifie d a s D illa rd

, wa s c ritic a l to th e S ta te ’s a b ility to de te rm in e wh o wa s

re sp o n sib le fo r th e m

u rd e r. A p p e lla nt d o e s no t a lle g e d e lib e ra te or in te n tio n a l

d e la y b y th e S ta te to o b ta in a stra te g ic a d v a n ta g e a t tria l. In ste a d

, h e a ttrib u te s

th e de la y to th e Sta te ’s n e glig e n c e

, c la im in g th a t th e Sta te ’s e ffo rts to id e n tify

,

lo c a te

, a nd in te rv ie w Dilla rd we re n o t su ffic ie n tly d ilig e n t. Ho we v e r, th e tria l

1 2c o u rt re

je c te d th is c la im

, a n d we d e fe r to th a t d e te rm in a tio n

, n o tin g th a t m o st o f

th e in v e stig a tiv e d e la y a

b o u t wh ic h Ap p e lla n t c o m p la in s c a m e d u rin g th e p e rio d

wh e n h e wa s n o t fa c in g a n y c h a rg e s. Co m p a r e D o g g e tt, 5 0 5 U.S

. a t 6 5 2

(re je c tin g th e g o v e rn m e n t’s a rg u m e n t th a t it d ilig e n tly se a rc h e d fo r th e

d e fe n d a n t wh e r e “ [t] h e fin din g s o f th e c o u rts b e lo w a re to th e c on tra ry ,”

e x p la in in g th a t “ we re v ie w tria l c o u rt d e te rm in a tio ns o f n e g lig e n c e with

c o n sid e ra b le d e fe re n c e ” ). M o re o v e r, d e la y du e to th e S ta t e ’ s n e g lig e n c e

ty p ic a lly we ig h s “ o n ly lig h tly

, o r b e nig n ly

, a g a in st th e S ta te .” S ta te v . P o rte r,

2 8 8 Ga . 5 24 , 5 2 7 (7 0 5 S E2 d 6 3 6 ) (2 01 1).

T h e tria l c o u rt p ro p e rly we ig he d th e th ird Ba rk e r-Do g ge tt fa c to r

, a s s e r t i o n

o f th e sp e e d y tria l rig h t in d u e c o u rse

, a g a in st Ap p e lla n t. H e m a d e no e x p lic it

d e m a n d fo r a sp e e d y tria l o n th e first in dic tm e n t u n til a fte r th e c o urt sig n e d a n

o rd e r n o lle p ro ssin g th e c a se

, a n d he th e n wa ite d u n til fiv e m o n th s a fte r th e

re tu rn o f th e se c on d in d ic tm e nt to file h is m o tio n to d ism iss; h is tria l b e g a n le ss

th a n two m on th s a fte r th a t. Th e tria l c o u rt al s o p ro pe rly we ig he d th e fo u rth

fa c to r, p re ju d ic e to th e d e fe n da n t, a g a in st Ap p e lla nt. He m a d e n o sh o win g th a t

th e de la y a t issu e we a k e n e d h is a b ility to ra ise sp e c ific d e fe n se s, e lic it sp e c ific

te stim o n y

, o r p ro d u c e sp e c ific ite m s o f e v id e n c e

, se e Do g ge tt, 5 0 5 U .S

. a t 6 5 5

,

1 3a n d th e c o u rt fo u n d a g a in st h im o n his a lle g a t i o n s o f “ ‘o p p re ssiv e p re tria l

in c a rc e ra tio n ’” a

n d u n u su a l “ ‘ a n x ie ty a n d c o n c e rn ’” b e y o nd th a t wh ic h

n e c e ss a rily a c c om

p a n ie s th e p e n d e n c y of se rio u s c rim in a l c h a rg e s, id

. a t 6 5 4

(q u o tin g Ba

rk e r, 4 0 7 U.S

. a t 5 3 2).

In su m

, we s e e n o a

b u se o f d isc re tio n by th e tria l c o u rt a s to a n y o f th e

fo u r Ba rk e r-Do g g e tt f

a c to rs o r th e u ltim a te c o n c lu sio n th a t Ap p e lla n t’s

c o n stitu tio n a l rig h t to a

sp e e d y tria l wa s n o t v io la te d . S e e Bro c k v . S ta te , 2 9 3

Ga

. 1 5 6

, 16 0 (7 43 S E2 d 4 1 0 ) (2 0 1 3 ). Ac c o rd in gly

, we re je c t Ap p e lla n t’s

c h a lle ng e to th e tria l c o u rt’s o rd e r d e n y in g h is m o t i o n to d ism iss th e se c o n d

in d ic tm e n t.

3

. Ap pe lla n t n e xt c o n te n d s th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d in re je c tin g h is

c h a lle ng e s u n d e r Ba tso n v

. K e n tu c k y

, 4 7 6 U.S

. 7 9 (1 0 6 S C t 1 7 1 2

, 90 LE2 d 6 9 )

(1 9 8 6 ), to th e S ta te ’s p e re m p to ry strik e s o f two p ro sp e c tiv e b la c k ju ro rs, Ju ro r

# 8 a n d Ju ro r #1 8

. B a tso n e sta b lish e d a th re e -ste p p ro c e ss fo r e v a lu a tin g c la im s

o f ra c ia l d isc rim in a tio n in th e u se o f p e re m p to ry strik e s:

(1 ) th e op p o n e n t of a p e re m p to ry c ha lle n g e m

u st m a k e a p rim a fa c ie

s h o w i n g o f ra c ia l d isc rim in a tio n ; (2 ) th e p ro p o n e nt of th e strik e

m u st th e n p ro v id e a ra c e -n e u tra l e x p la n a tio n fo r t h e strik e ; a n d

(3 ) t h e c o u rt m

u st d e c id e wh e th e r th e o pp o n e n t o f th e strik e h a s

p ro v e n [th e p ro p o n e n t’s] d isc rim in a to ry in te nt.

1 4To o m e r v

. S ta te

, 2 9 2 G a

. 4 9

, 5 2 (7 3 4 S E2 d 3 3 3 ) ( 2 0 1 2 )

. Th e ju ry th a t trie d

Ap p e lla n t in c lu d e d e ig h t b la c k ju ro rs, a n d th e S ta te u s ed o n ly six o f its n in e

p e re m p to r y c ha lle n g e s, b u t we will a ssu m e with o ut d e c id in g th a t Ap p e lla n t

m a d e th e re q u ire d p rim a fa c ie sh o win g o f ra c i al d isc rim in a tio n a t Ba tso n ste p

o n e

. Se e Jo h n so n v

. Ca lifo rn ia

, 5 4 5 U.S

. 1 6 2

, 16 8-1 7 3 (1 2 5 S C t 2 4 1 0

, 1 6 2

LE2 d 1 2 9 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (d isc u ssin g th e re qu ire m e n ts o f a p rim a fa c ie sh o win g a t

Ba tso n ste p o n e ).

At Ba tso n ste p two

,

th e pro p o n e n t o f th e strik e n e e d o n l y a rtic u la te a fa c ia lly ra c e

n e u tra l re a so n fo r th e strik e

. S te p t w o “ d o e s n o t de m a n d a n

e x p la na tio n th a t is p e rsu a siv e

, o r e v e n p la u sib le

. ‘At th is [se c o n d ]

ste p o f th e in q u iry

, th e issu e is th e fa c ia l v a lid ity o f th e p ro se c uto r’s

e x p la na tio n

. U n le ss a d i sc rim in a to ry in te n t is in h e re n t in th e

p ro se c u to r’s e xp la n a tio n

, th e re as o n o ffe re d will b e d e e m e d ra c e

n e u tra l.’”

To o m e r, 2 9 2 Ga

. a t 5 4 (7 3 4 S E2 d 3 3 3 ) (2 0 1 2) (c ita tio n om itte d ). Afte r

Ap p e lla n t m a d e h is Ba tso n c h a lle ng e

, th e Sta te e x p la in e d th a t it stru c k Ju ro r # 8

b e c a u se sh e fa ile d to ra ise h e r h a n d in re sp o n se to a n y o f th e g e ne ra l v o ir d ire

q u e stio n s a n d re sp on d e d flip p a n tly wh e n a p ro se c u to r q u e stio n e d h e r a b o u t th is,

a n d it stru c k Ju ro r # 1 8 b e c a u se “ d u rin g a b re a k

, [h e ] wa s a c tu a lly ta lk in g to o n e

o f th e o th e r [p ro sp e c tiv e ] ju ro rs a n d p a rtic u la rly a b o ut p o lic e o ffic e rs.” Th e se

1 5a re fa c ia lly ra c e -n e u tra l e x p la n a tio n s, a n d th e S ta te th e re fo re sa tisfie d its b u rd e n

o f p ro d uc tio n a t B a tso n ste p two

. S e e S n y d e r v

. Lo u isia n a

, 5 52 U.S

. 4 7 2

, 4 7 7

(1 2 8 SCt 1 2 0 3

, 17 0 LE2 d 1 7 5 ) (2 0 08 ) (n o tin g th a t “ ra c e -n e u t r a l re a so n s fo r

p e re m p to ry c h a l l e n g e s o fte n in v o k e a ju ro r’s d e m e a n o r (e .g

. , ne rv o u sn e ss,

in a tte n tio n )” ); Arrin g to n v

. S ta te

, 28 6 Ga

. 33 5, 3 4 0 (6 8 7 S E2 d 4 38 ) (2 0 0 9 )

(h o ld in g th a t b o d y la n g ua g e a n d fa c ia l e x p re ssio n s m ay b e r a c e- n e u tra l

e x p la n a tio n s a t Ba tso n ste p two ); Ra k e stra u v. S ta te

, 2 7 8 G a

. 87 2, 8 7 5 (6 0 8

S E2 d 2 1 6 ) ( 2 0 0 5 ) (h old in g th a t “ o bse rv e d c a m a ra d e rie with a fe llo w

p ro sp e c tiv e ju ro r” is a

fa c ia lly ra c e -n e u tra l e x p la n a tio n ).

Th e first two Ba tso n ste p s g o v e rn th e p ro d u c tio n of e vid e n c e th a t le a d s th e

tria l c o u rt to d e te rm in e

, a t B a tso n ste p th re e

, wh e th e r th e o p p o n e n t o f th e

p e re m p to ry strik e h a s c a rrie d h is b u rd e n o f p ro v in g pu rp o se fu l d isc rim in a tio n

.

S e e Jo h n so n

, 5 4 5 U.S

. a t 1 7 1

. T h u s

, i t is a t th e th ird ste p o f Ba tso n th a t th e

c o u r t m a k e s c re d ib ility de te rm in a tio n s, e v a lu a te s th e p e r s u a s i v e n e s s o f t h e s t r i k e

o p p on e n t’s p rim a fa c ie sh o win g a n d th e e x p l an a tio n s giv e n b y th e strik e

p ro p o n e n t, a

n d e x a m in e s a ll o th e r “ c irc u m sta n c e s th a t be a r u p o n th e issu e o f

ra c ia l a n im o sity .” S n y de r, 5 5 2 U.S

. a t 4 7 8

. S e e a lso To o m e r, 2 92 Ga

. a t 5 5 -5 6

.

Afte r fin d in g th a t th e S ta te p ro v id e d fa c ia lly ra c e -n e u tra l re a so n s fo r th e strik e s,

1 6th e tri a l c o u rt h e re d e nie d Ap p e lla n t’s Ba tso n m o tio n

. Th a t u ltim a te

d e te rm in a tio n “ is e n title d to g re a t d e fe re n c e on a p p e a l

, a n d Ap p e lla n t h a s n o t

d e m o n stra te d th a t it wa s c le a rly e rro n e o u s.” Id

. a t 5 8

. Ac c o rd in gly

, we re je c t

Ap p e lla n t’s c la im

th a t Ba tso n e rro r e n title s h im to a n e w tria l.

4

. F in a lly

, Ap p e lla n t a rg u e s th a t h e sh ou ld h a v e b e e n a ll o w e d t o

p re se nt e v id e n c e th a t Le d be tte r c o n so rte d with strip p e rs. “ Th is Co u rt h a s lo n g

h e l d t h a t

, a s a g e ne ra l ru le

, e v id e n c e o f th e c ha ra c te r o f a m u rd e r v ic tim is

irre le va n t a n d in a d m is s i b l e a t tria l.” La n c e v

. S ta te

, 2 7 5 Ga

. 11

, 1 7 -1 8 (5 6 0

S E2 d 6 63 ) (2 0 0 2 ). No twith sta n d in g th is g e n e ra l ru le , a c rim in a l d e fe nd a n t

“ is e n title d to in tr o d u c e re le v a n t an d a d m issib le e v id e n c e

im p lic a tin g a n o th e r p e rso n in th e c o m m issio n o f th e c rim e o r c rim e s

fo r wh ic h th e de fe nd a n t i s b e in g trie d

. Ho w e v e r, th e p ro ffe re d

e v id e nc e mu s t ra ise a re a so n a b le in fe re n c e o f th e d e fe nd a n t’s

in n o c e n c e

, a n d mu s t d ire c tly c o n n e c t th e o th e r pe rso n with th e

c o rp u s d e lic ti, o r sh ow th a t th e o th e r p e rso n h a s re c e n tly c o m m itte d

a c rim e o f th e sa m e o r sim ila r n a tu re .” Ev id e n c e th a t m e re ly c a sts

a b a re su sp ic io n o n a no th e r o r “ ra ise [s] a c o n je c tu ra l in fe re nc e a s to

th e c o m m issio n o f th e c rim e b y a n oth e r is n o t a dm issib le .”

Cu rry v

. S ta te

, 2 9 1 Ga

. 4 46

, 4 5 2 -4 5 3 (7 2 9 S E2 d 37 0) (2 0 1 2 ) (c ita tio n s o m itte d ).

Ap p e lla n t a rg u e s th a t Le d b e tte r’s a lle g e d fre q u e n t a sso c ia tio n with

strip p e rs wa s re le v a n t to sh ow th a t h e sp e n t h is m on e y o n p ro stitu te s in ste a d o f

in v e stin g it in a h ip -h o p v e n tu re with D illa rd th a t fa ile d

, g iv in g Dilla rd a m o tiv e

1 7to kill h im

. Ap p e lla n t’s own e x p la n a tio n fo r wh y he wa n te d to p u t th is e v id e n c e

b e fo re th e ju ry s h o w s th a t it wo u ld ha v e d o n e n oth in g m o re th a n c a st a “ ba re

su sp ic io n ” o n Dilla rd o r ra ise “ ‘a c o n je c tu ra l in fe re n c e ’” th a t h e m ig h t b e th e

g u ilty p a rty

, id

. (c ita tio n o m itte d ); th e e v id e n c e wo u l d n o t h a v e ra ise d a

re a so na b le in fe re n c e th a t Ap pe lla n t wa s in n oc e n t o r d ire c tly c o n n e c te d a n y o n e

e lse to Le d

b e tte r’s m

u rd e r, se e id

. Mo re o v e r, D illa rd a n d Ms. He a rd te stifie d

th a t Le d b e tte r’s fin a n c e s we re a so u rc e o f fric tio n in th e h o u se h o ld

, a n d Dilla rd

te stifie d th a t Le d

b e tte r wa s a “ h u stle r ” a n d a “ de c e iv e r.” Un d e r th e se

c irc u m sta n c e s, th e tria l c o u rt d id n o t a b u se its di s c re tio n in e x c lu d in g th is

e v id e n c e

. S e e Wa tso n v

. S ta te

, 2 7 8 G a

. 7 6 3

, 7 7 0 -7 71 (6 0 4 S E2 d 8 0 4 ) (2 0 0 4 ).

Ju d g m e n t a ffirm e d . All th e Ju stic e s c o nc u r.

1 8