FI FTH DI VI SI ON

M CFA DDEN, P. J.

, BRA NCH and BETHEL, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

October 26, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 7 A0 65 9 . ELLIS v . THE STATE.

M C F A D D E N , Pres id i n g J u d g e.

W i l l i am El l i s ap peal s fro m t h e t ri al co urt ’ s d en i al o f h is p l ea i n b ar as sert ed o n

co n st i t u t io n al s p eed y t ri al g ro u n ds

. Becau s e t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n k ey f a c t u al

fi nd i ng s an d fai l ed to b al an ce th e rel ev an t l eg al fact ors

, t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s j u d g m en t i s

v acat ed an d t he cas e i s rem an d ed fo r t h e t ri al co u rt t o ex erci s e i t s di s cret i o n b as ed o n

t h e co rrect fact s an d l aw.

1

. Fa ct s a n d p r o ced

ur a l p o s t u r e.

El l i s was arres t ed o n Feb ru ary 1 5

, 2 0 1 3

, an d o n Ap ri l 2 6

, 2 0 1 3

, h e was i n d i ct ed

fo r r a p e, ag g rav at ed s o d om y

, fal s e i m

p ri s o n m en t, k i d nap p in g

, an d b at tery

. El l i s

rem ai n ed i n carcerat ed d u e t o a p aro l e v i o l a t i o n

. O n J u n e 6

, 2 0 13

, at t o rn ey Bri an

M cW h o rt er fi l ed an en t ry o f ap p earan ce o n beh al f o f El l is , a wai v er o f arrai g n m en tan d no t g u i l ty p l eas to al l ch arg es

, a m o ti o n fo r d i s co v ery

, an d a n o t i ce o f t h e

d efen d an t ’ s el ect i o n t o en g ag e i n reci p ro cal d i s co very wi t h t he s t at e.

Th e cas e fi rs t ap p eared o n a t ri al cal en d ar fo r No v em b er 1, 2 0 13

, b u t i t was

t h en co nt i n u ed u n t i l th e tri al cal en d ar b eg i n n i n g o n J an u ary 6

, 2 0 1 4

. On J an u ary 1 3,

2 0 1 4 , El l i s m o v ed fo r a co n t in uan ce o n t h e g ro u n d t h at h e h ad ju s t recei ved cert ai n

d i s co v ery fro m t h e s t at e o n or ab o u t J an u ary 8

, 1 0

, an d 1 3

. Th e t ri al co u rt gran t ed t h e

m o ti o n an d s et a n ew t ri al d at e o f M arch 1 0

, 2 0 1 4. Th e t ri al co u rt s u bs eq u en t l y

co n ti n u ed t h e cas e t o an ot h er t ri al d at e o f May 2

, 2 0 1 4

, an d th en co nt i n u ed t h e t ri al

ag ai n u n t i l Sep t em

b er 5 , 2 0 1 4.

On J u n e 2 7

, 2 01 4, t h e s t at e i n d i ct ed El l i s o n a ch arg e o f i nfl u en ci n g a wi t n es s

i n t h e i ns t an t cas e. M cW h o rt er en t ered an ap p earan ce in t h a t c a s e as wel l, an d o n

Au g u s t 11

, 2 01 4

, t h e s t at e m o v ed t o jo i n t hat i n fl u en ci n g cas e wi t h th e i n s t an t cas e.

On Sep t em

b er 5

, 20 1 4

, rat her t h an h o l d in g t h e sch ed u l e d t r i a l i n t h is cas e, t h e t ri al

co u rt h el d a h eari ng o n t h e s tat e’ s m o t i on t o jo i n t h e t wo cas es . At t h at h eari n g , t h e

s t at e n o t ed t h at jo i n der wo u ld creat e a po t en ti al co n fl i ct fo r d e f e n s e co u n s el

M cW h o rt er becau s e s o m e o f th e wi t nes s es i n t h e i n fl u en ci n g cas e were h i s fo rm er

cl i en ts

. Defen s e co u n sel o b j ect ed t o t h e jo in d er, s tat i n g th at t h e rap e cas e h ad al read y

b een co n t i n u ed s ev eral t im es , t h at i f t h e cas es were jo i ned th en h e wo u l d b e u n ab l e

2t o c o n t i n u e rep res en ti n g El li s d u e t o t h e cl i en t co n fl ict s

, an d t h at El l i s wo u l d t h e n

h av e to s t art o v er w it h a n ew at t o rn ey

. At t h e en d o f t h e heari n g

, t h e t ri al co u r t

an n ou n ced t h at i t was g ran t i ng t h e s t at e’ s m ot i o n fo r jo i n d er an d to l d d efen s e

co u ns el

, “ No w we h av e t he i ss u e o f a co nfl i ct

. So

, i f y ou wi s h to be co nfl i ct ed o u t

,

y o u k n o w, ju st l et m e k n o w

, an d we’ l l h av e t o co n t i n u e t h e cas e i n o rd er fo r M r. El l i s

t o ob t ai n o t h er co u n s el .” Th ree d ay s aft er t he h eari n g, o n Sep tem ber 9

, 2 0 14

, t h e t ri al

co u rt en t ered a wri t t en o rd er g ran t i n g t h e s t at e’ s m o t i on fo r jo i nd er o f t he cas es

.

Th e co u rt pl aced t h e i n s t an t cas e o n th e tri al cal en d ar fo r Oct o b er 31

, 2 0 1 4.

Th e r eaft er, McW h o rt er fi l ed a m o t i o n t o wi t h d raw as co u ns el

. O n No v em b er 2 1,

2 0 1 4

, t he t ri al co u rt en t ered an o rd er g ran t i n g t h e m o t i o n an d d i s m i s s i n g M cW h o rt er

fro m t h e cas e. On Decem b er 1

, 2 0 1 4

, El l i s fi l ed a p ro s e o b j e ct i o n t o M cW h o rt er’ s

wi t h d rawal

. In h i s o b

ject i o n, El l i s as s ert ed

, am o n g o t h er t h i ng s

, t h at t he cas e h ad

al read y b een co n ti n ued fro m fi v e t ri al cal en d ars ; t h at “ i f co u n s el i s rem o ved

. . . . o r

p erm i t t ed t o wi t h d raw[, El l i s ] wi l l b e u n ab l e t o p ro ceed to [a] ju ry t ri al [,] wh i ch co u ld

v i o l at e h i s ri g h t t o a s peed y tri a l ” ; a n d th at t h e wi t h drawal v i o l at ed “ h i s ri g h t s

g u aran teed by t he 5 th

, 6 t h

, an d 1 4 t h Am en d m en t s t o t h e U. S. Co n s t i t u t i o n an d

co n co m i t an t p ro v i s i o n s o f t he Geo rg i a Co n s t i t u t i on .”

3Th e t ri al co u rt s ch ed u l ed a h eari n g o n El l i s’ o bject i o n t o co u n s el ’ s wi th d rawal

o n Decem

b er 1 7, 2 0 1 4

. A t t h e h eari n g

, t h e p ro s ecu t o r i n d i cat ed t h at s h e was n ot

read y an d t h e ju d g e res p o n d ed t h at h e wo u l d co n t i nu e t h e h eari n g i f s he was n ot

p rep ared

. M cW h o rt er rei t erat ed t h at h e h ad arg u ed v eh em en tl y ag ai n st jo i nd er o f t h e

i n fl u en ci n g a wi t n es s cas e wi t h t h e in s tan t rap e cas e b ecau s e o f t h e po t en ti al co n fl i ct

.

Th e ju d g e th en co n t i n u ed t he h eari n g t o a l at er d at e. Th e fo l l o w i n g d a y, Decem b er

1 8

, 2 0 1 4, t h e t ri al co urt v acat ed i t s N o v em b er 2 1 o rd er al lo wi n g M cW h o rt er’ s

wi t h d rawal

, an d s et a heari ng o n M cW h ort er’ s m ot i o n t o w i t hd raw fo r J an u ary 2 8,

2 0 1 5

.

A t t h e J an u ary 2 8 heari n g

, th e s t at e arg u ed t h at th e t ri al co urt s ho u l d a l l o w

M c Wh o r t e r t o wi t h d raw. Th e p ro s ecu to r al s o ad d ed t h at “ t h ere m ay b e fu rt h er

ch arg es ag ai n s t Mr. El l i s d o wn t h e p i p el i n e t h at wo u ld ev en fu rt h er t h i s p o t en t i al

co n fl i ct .” M cW h o rt er to l d t h e co u rt t h at wh en t h ey ap peared o n t h e tri al “ cal en d ar

b efo re t he l as t [o n e] ,” t h e s t at e as ked fo r, an d w a s g r a n t e d

, a co n t i n u an ce t o b ri n g

ad d it i o n al ch arg es ag ai n s t El l i s

. M cW h o rt er rei t erat ed th at h e h ad st ro ng l y o b ject ed

t o t h e s t a t e ’s m o ti o n t o jo i n t h e cas es b ecau s e he was read y o n t h e in s t an t cas e, h e

wan ted t o p ro ceed wi t h i t

, an d h e d i d n o t wan t t o b e fo rced t o wi t h d raw d u e t o a

4p o t en t i al co n fl i ct

. Th e t ri al co u rt co n t in u ed t h e m at t er t o an ot h er h eari n g o n Feb ru ary

2 , 2 01 5

.

Du ri n g t h at Feb ru ary 2 h eari n g

, t h e t ri al co u rt o p i n ed

, “ W e jo i n ed t hes e cas es

fo r t ri al

. W o u l d t h i s

– t h es e i s su es b e ex i s t i ng i f t h e cas es h ad n o t b een jo i n ed ? At o n e

p o i n t y o u i n d i cat ed t h at ’ s th e re a s o n w e f ace t hes e is s ues

, bu t I’ m n o t

– I’ m n ot

co n vi n ced o f t h at

, b u t wh at i f I

– t h es e cas es weren ’ t j o i n ed an d we ju s t tri ed t h e rap e

cas e al o n e? ” M cW ho rt er res p o n d ed t h at “ t hat ’ s wh at I h ad p ro po s ed earl y o n .” Th e

t ri al co u rt t o o k t h e m at t er u n d er ad v i s em en t a n d o n Feb ru ary 2 7

, 2 0 15

, en t ered an

o rd er d en y i n g M cW h o rt er’ s m o t i o n t o wi th d raw.

On M arch 1 0

, 2 01 5, t h e s t at e fi l ed a m o t io n t o d i sq u al ify M cW h o rt er. A m o n th

l at er, o n Ap ri l 1 0

, 2 0 1 5

, t h e t ri al co u rt h el d a heari ng o n t h e s tat e’ s m o t i o n to

d i s q u al i fy co un s el

. T wo week s aft er t h at

, o n A pri l 2 4

, 2 0 1 5

, t h e t ri al co urt en t ered an

o rd er d en y i n g t h e s tat e’ s m o ti o n t o d i s qu al i fy M cW h ort er.

On M ay 1 5

, 2 0 1 5

, t h e s t at e i n d i ct ed El l i s o n a s eco nd in fl uen ci n g cas e. On

J u n e 1 1, 2 0 1 5

, M cW h o rt er an d t h e s t at e fi l ed a jo i nt m o t i o n req u es t i n g t h at t h e co u rt

co n ti n u e t h e t wo jo i n ed cas es

– t h e i n s t an t cas e an d t h e fi rs t i n fl u en ci n g a wi t n es s

cas e

– fro m t h e J u l y 6

, 2 0 15 t ri al cal en d ar, an d t h at t h e co u rt s p eci al l y s et b o t h cas es

fo r t h e fi rs t week of t he Sep t em b er 2 0 1 5 t ri al cal en d ar. Th at s am e d ay

, t h e t ri al co u rt

5en t ered an o rd er t h at g ran t ed t h e j o i n t m o t io n t o co n t i n u e, b u t d i d n ot ad dres s t h e

req u es t fo r a s p eci al l y set t ri al d at e. On J u l y 1

, 2 0 1 5

, t h e p art ies ap p eared in co u rt “ to

t al k ab o u t wh ere [t h e cas e was ] g o i ng fro m here p ro ced u ral l y .” At th at m eet i n g

, t h e

s t at e p ro p o s ed t h at t h e co u rt n o w s ev er t h e fi rs t i n fl u en ci n g cas e fro m t h e in st an t cas e

an d th at t h e t wo i nfl u en ci n g cas es b e t ri ed b efo re t h e i n s t an t cas e. Bo t h El l i s an d h i s

co u ns el co n sen t ed t o t h e s t at e’ s p ro p o s al

.

On Au gu s t 7 , 2 0 1 5

, El l i s fi l ed a p ro s e p l ea i n b ar fo r a s p eed y t ri al v i o l at i o n

i n t h e i n s t an t cas e, cl ai m i n g t h at t wo d efen s e wi t n es s es h ad d i ed d u ri n g t h e d el ay o f

t h e cas e. On Au g u s t 1 0

, 2 0 1 5

, t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed t h e pl ea i n b ar o n t h e g ro u n d t h at

E l l i s w as rep res en ted b y co un s el an d t h u s was n o t en t it l ed t o rep res en t h i m s e l f

.

Th ereaft er, t h e i n s t an t cas e ap p eared o n t ri al cal en d ars f o r J an u ary 4

, 2 0 1 6

, an d

M arc h 4

, 2 0 1 6

, bu t n o t ri al occu rred o n ei t h er d at e. In t h e m ean t i m e, t h e t wo

i n fl u en ci n g cas es wen t t o t ri al

, wi t h t h e fi rs t cas e res u l t i n g i n a m i s t ri al d u e t o a h u n g

ju ry o n J an u ary 3

, 2 01 6

, an d t h e s eco n d i n fl u en ci n g cas e res u lt i ng i n a g u i l t y v erd i ct

o n M arch 1 5 , 2 0 1 6

.

Th e i n s t an t cas e ap p eared o n t h e co urt ’ s t ri al cal en d ar b eg i n n i n g M ay 6

, 2 0 1 6,

an d was c a l l e d fo r t ri al o n M ay 1 6

, 2 01 6

. At t h e cal l o f t h e cas e, El l i s s o u g h t to

d i s m i s s M cW h o rt er an d pro cee d p r o s e. Th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed t he req u es t

, b ut

6i n fo rm ed El l i s t hat h e co u ld l at er rei n s t at e M cW h o rt er i f h e wan t ed t o d o s o

. W h i l e

rep res en t i n g h im s el f, El li s fi l ed i n co u rt a p l ea i n b ar as sert i n g a co n s t i t u ti o n al s p eed y

t ri al v i ol at i o n

. Aft er fi l i n g t h e p ro s e p l ea i n b ar, El l i s s o u g h t t o rei ns t at e M cW h o rt er,

wh i ch t h e t ri al co u rt in it i al l y al l o wed

, b u t l at er d is al lo wed an d i n s tru ct ed El l i s to

ap p ly fo r a p u b l ic d efen der.

A n ew at t orn ey was su b seq u en t l y ap p o i n t ed to rep res en t El l i s an d h e en t ered

h i s n ot i ce o f ap p earan ce as co un s el fo r El l i s on J u n e 1 0

, 20 1 6

. New co un s el ex p res s l y

ad o pt ed t h e pro s e p lea i n b ar prev i o u sl y fi l ed b y El l i s

. A h eari ng was h el d o n Au g u s t

3

, 2 0 1 6

, an d t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed t h e p l ea i n b ar o n Au g u s t 2 6, 20 1 6

. El l i s ’

ap p li cat io n fo r i n t erl o cu t o ry rev i ew was g ran t ed , an d t h i s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

2

. Ba r ker -Do g g et t f r amewo r k.

“ Bo t h t h e Si x t h Am en d m en t o f t h e U n i t ed St at es Co n s t i t u t i o n an d t h e Geo rg i a

Co n s t i t u t i o n p ro v i d e t hat a cri m i n al d efen d an t sh al l h av e t he ri gh t t o a s p eed y t ri al .”

S t a t e v. Bo n a w i t

z

, 3 3 9 G a. A p p

. 2 9 9

, 3 00 (1 ) (7 9 3 SE2 d 1 9 1 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (ci t at i on s

o m it t ed ).

Co n st i tu t i o n al s peed y t ri a l c l a i m s are ev al u at ed u n d er t h e t wo -p art

fram ewo rk set o ut i n Ba rker v. W i ng o

, 4 0 7 U .S. 51 4 (9 2 SCt

. 21 8 2

, 3 3

LE2 d 1 0 1 ) (1 9 7 2), an d refi n ed i n Do g g et t v. U n i t ed S ta t es

, 5 0 5 U.S. 6 4 7

(1 1 2 SCt . 2 6 8 6

, 1 2 0 LE2 d 5 2 0 ) (1 9 9 2 ). Th e fi rs t p art req u i res t h e t ri al

co u rt t o d et e r m i n e wh et her t h e t i m e bet ween th e d efen d an t ’ s arres t o r

7i n d i ct m en t an d h i s t ri al was l on g en o u g h t o b e co ns i d ered pres u m p t i v el y

p reju d i ci al to t h e defen d an t

. If t h e p res u m p t i v e p reju d i ce t h res h o l d w as

cro s sed

, t h e co urt p ro ceed s t o t h e s eco n d p art o f t h e fram ewo rk

,

ap p l y i n g a co nt ex t -fo cu s ed

, fo u r-fact o r b al an ci n g t es t to d et erm in e

wh et h er t he d efen d an t was d en i ed t h e ri gh t t o a s p eed y t ri al

. Th e fo u r

fact o rs t h at t h e co u rt m

u s t ex am i n e are: (1 ) t h e l en gt h o f t h e d el ay ; (2 )

t h e reas o n s fo r i t ; (3 ) t he d efen d an t ’ s as s ert i o n o f h i s ri gh t t o a s p eed y

t r i a l ; an d (4 ) p reju d i ce to t h e d efen d an t

. Ho wev er, t h es e fo u r fact or s

h av e n o tal i s m an i c q u al i ti es an d m u s t be co n s i dered to g et h er wi t h s u ch

o t h er c i r c u m s t an ces as m ay be rel ev an t i n l i g h t o f t h e an i m at i n g

p ri n ci p l es o f t h e s peed y t ri al g u aran t ee.

Th e B a r ker -Do g g et t fram ewo rk n eces s ari l y co m p el s co u rt s t o ap p ro ach

s p eed y t ri al cas es o n an ad h o c b as i s, a t as k bet t er su i t ed t o t ri al co u rt s

t h an ap p el l at e co u rt s

. W e h av e ex p l ai n ed t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d i scret i o n

i n ap p l y i n g t h i s fram ewo rk i s s u b s t an t i al an d b ro ad

. W e wi l l accep t th e

co u rt ’ s fi nd i n g s o f fact u n l es s t h ey are cl earl y erro neo u s

, an d we wi l l

d efer t o t h e co u rt ’ s ul t i m at e co n cl u s i o n u n l es s it am o u n t s t o an ab u se o f

d i s cret i o n

, ev en t h o u gh w e m i g ht h av e reach ed a d i fferen t co n cl u s i o n

were t h e i s s u e co m

m it t ed t o o u r d i s cret io n

.

Jo h ns o n v. S ta t e

, 3 0 0 Ga. 2 5 2

, 2 57 -2 5 8 (3 ) (7 9 4 SE2 d 6 0 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ). “ Ho wev er, wh ere th e t ri al co u rt has cl earl y erred i n s o m e o f i t s

fi nd i ng s of fact an d / o r h as m i s ap p l i ed th e law t o so m e d eg ree, t h e d eferen ce o wed t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s u l ti m at e ru l in g i s d i m i n i s h ed .” St a t e v. Po r ter

, 2 8 8 Ga. 52 4

, 5 2 6 (2 ) (a)

(7 0 5 SE2 d 6 3 6 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (ci tat io n an d p u n ct u at io n o m i tt ed ).

3

. Pr es u mp t i ve p r ej u d i ce.

8“ Sp eed y tri al ri g h t s at t ach at t h e t i m e o f arres t o r fo rm al i n d i ct m en t

, wh i ch ev er

i s earl i er.” S

a l a h u d d i n v. S t at e

, 2 7 7 Ga. 5 6 1

, 5 6 2 (2 ) (5 9 2 SE2 d 4 1 0) (2 0 04 ) (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed ). Here, t h e rel ev an t d el ay was th e t i m e t h at el ap s ed b et ween El li s ’ arres t o n

Feb ru ary 1 5

, 2 01 3

, an d t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s den i al o f h i s p l ea i n bar o n Au g u s t 2 6

, 2 0 1 6.

See St a t e v. Po r t er

, s u p r a ( wh e r e a t ri al has n o t o ccu rred

, t h e d el ay s h o u l d b e

cal cu l at ed fro m th e d at e o f arres t o r o t h er fo rm al accu s at i o n t o t h e d at e o n wh i ch t h e

s p eed y t ri al m o t i o n was g ran ted o r d en i ed ); S t ewa r t v. S t a t e

, 3 1 0 Ga. Ap p

. 5 5 1

, 5 5 3

(1 ) (7 1 3 SE2 d 7 0 8) (2 01 1 ). Th e t ri al co u rt co rrect l y fo u n d t h at t he t h ree-an d -a-h al f

y ear d el ay i n t hi s cas e w as p res u m p t i vel y p reju d i ci al

. See S t at e v. Bu ckn er

, 2 9 2 Ga.

3 9 0

, 3 93 (2 ) (7 3 8 SE2 d 6 5 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (d el ay ap p ro ach i n g o n e y ear i s s u ffi ci en t i n m o s t

cas es t o rai s e a p res u m

p ti o n o f p reju d i ce).

4

. Fo u r -f a ct o r b a l a n ci n g

t es t

.

“ W h en a d el ay rai ses a p res u m p t i o n o f p reju d i ce, an d a m o re s earch i n g i n q u i ry

i s warran t ed

, a co u rt m

u s t co n s id er [t h e fo u r fact o rs o f t h e Ba r ker -Do g g et t bal an ci n g

t es t ] .” Bu ckn er , s up ra at 3 9 3 (3 ) (ci tat i on s o m i tt ed ).

(a) Len g t h o

f t he d el a y.

“ Th e l en g t h o f t h e p ret ri al d el ay i n ab s o lu t e t erm s p l ay s a ro l e i n t h e t h res h o ld

d et erm i n at i o n o f p res u m

p ti v e p reju d i ce. Ho wev er, i t al s o wears an o t her h at as o n e o f

9t h e fo u r i n t errel at ed cri t eri a t h at m u s t b e w ei g h ed i n t h e b al an ce at t h e s eco n d s t ag e

o f t h e Ba rker -Do g

g et t an al y s i s.” Ru

f f i n v. S ta t e

, 2 8 4 Ga. 5 2

, 5 6 (2 ) (b ) (i ) (6 6 3 SE2 d

1 8 9 ) (2 0 0 8 ). W h et h er th e d el ay can b e s een as u n co m m o n l y l on g “ d ep en d s t o s o m e

ex t en t o n t h e co m

p l ex i t y an d s eri o u s n es s o f t he ch arg es i n t hat cas e.” Bu ckn er

, s u p ra

at 39 3 (3 ) (a). Aft er co n s i d eri n g t h e s eri o u s n es s o f t h e s ex u al o ffen se ch arg es an d t h e

co m p l ex i t y o f t h e ad d i t i on al i s s u es i n t h e cas e, t h e t ri al co u rt fo un d t h at t h e p ret ri al

d el ay o f m o re t h a n t h r e e ye ars was u n co m m o n l y l o n g an d th at t h i s fact o r m u s t b e

w e i g h ed ag ai n s t th e s t at e. Th e t ri al co u rt d i d no t err i n fi nd i n g t h at t h e del ay was

u n co m m o n l y l o n g o r i n wei g h i n g t h i s fact o r ag ai n s t t h e s t at e. See Bu ckn er

, s u p r a ;

Ru f f i n

, s up ra at 57 (2 ) (b ) (i ) (d el ay o f al m o s t 2 7 m o n t h s fo u n d t o be u n co m m o n l y

l o n g ) ; B o n a wi t

z

, s u p ra at 3 02 (3 ) (a) (t wo -an d -a-h al f y ear d el ay was u n co m m o n l y

l o n g an d wei g h ed ag ai n s t t h e s t at e).

(b ) Rea s o ns f

o r t h e d el a y.

Th e t ri al co u rt co n cl u d ed t h at t h e d el ay i n t h i s cas e w as eq u al l y cau s ed b y t h e

s t at e an d t h e d efen s e. In d eed

, wh ere b o t h p art i es are t o b lam e fo r t he d el ay

, t h i s fact o r

o f t h e B a r ker -Do g g et t an al y s i s rem ai n s n eu t ral

. See Ro bi n s on v. S t at e

, 28 7 Ga. 2 6 5,

2 6 8 ( 1 ) ( b ) (6 9 5 SE2 d 2 0 1 ) (2 0 1 0 ). H o wev er, i n reach i n g it s co n cl u s i o n, t h e tri al

co u rt m ad e cl earl y erro n eo us fi n d i ng s o f fact an d fai l ed t o co ns i d er reas o n s fo r al l o f

10t h e del ay s i n t h e cas e. Th u s

, o n rem an d, t h e t ri al co urt m u st co n s i d er a l l o f t h e

rel ev an t fact s i n d et erm i n in g t he reas o n s fo r t he d el ay

.

Th i s fact o r, wh i ch ex am in es wh et h er t h e d efen d an t o r t h e [s ] t at e

b ears m o re res p o n s i b i l i t y fo r t h e d el ay

, i s p i v ot al i n ev al uat i n g th e

s t ren g t h o f a c o n s t i tu t i o n al s p eed y t ri al cl ai m

, as i t can co l o r th e

co n s i d erat i o n of al l o t h er fact o rs

. Del i b erat e d el ay i n t en d ed to hi nd er th e

d efen s e m

u s t b e wei g h ed h eav il y ag ai n s t t h e [s ] t at e, wh ereas d el ay

o ccas i o n ed b y m o re neu t ral cau s es

, s u ch as n eg l i g en ce o r o v ercro wd ed

d o ck et s

, wei g h s l es s heav i l y ag ai n s t t h e [s ] t at e. O n t h e o th er h an d

, d el ay

cau s ed b y t h e d efen s e wei g h s ag ai n s t t h e d efen dan t

.

Ph a n v. S t a te

, 2 9 0 Ga. 5 88

, 5 9 3 (1 ) (b ) (7 2 3 SE 2 d 8 7 6 ) ( 2 0 1 2 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). “ To ev al u at e t h e reas o n s fo r del ay

, th e co u rt as si g n s v ari ou s

d eg rees o f wei g h t to t h e d i fferen t reas o ns pro v i d ed b y t h e p ro secu t i o n an d th e d efen s e

res p ect i vel y .” La

yma n v. S t a te

, 2 8 4 Ga. 8 3

, 8 5 (6 63 SE2 d 16 9 ) (2 0 08 ) (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed ).

As n o t ed ab o ve, t h e s peed y t ri al ri g h t s i n t h i s cas e at t ach ed at th e t i m e of arres t

,

wh i ch o ccu rred b efo re t h e fo rm al i n d i ct m en t. See S al a h u d d i n

, s u p ra. Bu t “ t h e t ri al

co u rt fai l ed t o co n s i d er t h e del ay b et ween th e [arres t ] i n [Feb ru ary 2 0 1 3 ] an d t h e fi rs t

cal l t o tri al i n [No v em

b er 2 0 1 3 .] ” Y

o r k v

. S t a t e

, 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p

. 5 81

, 5 86 (2 ) (b ) (i i )

(7 8 0 SE2 d 3 5 2 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (n ot i n g t h at t h e tri al co u rt ’ s Ba r ker -Do g get t an al y s is o n t h i s

fact or was i n co m

p l et e wh ere i t fai l ed t o co n s i d er t h e d el ay b et ween t h e ret u rn o f t h e

11i n d i ct m en t

, wh en s p eed y t ri al ri g h t s at t ach ed i n t h a t c a s e becau s e i t p reced ed t h e

arres t

, an d t h e fi rs t cal l to t ri al )

. We n o t e t h at wh ere, as h ere, t h e reco rd rev eal s n o

s p eci fi c reas o n fo r su ch a d el ay

, i t m u st b e at t ri b u t ed

, “ at l eas t i n p art

, t o t h e [s ] t at e’ s

n eg li g en ce i n m o v i n g t h e cas e fo rward .” Ph a n

, s u p r a a t 5 94 (1 ) (b ) (ci t at i on s

o m it t ed ). Acco rd Y

o r k

, s u p ra (fi n d i n g n o a p paren t reas o n fo r del ay b et ween

i n d i ct m en t an d fi rs t cal l t o tri al an d t h at s u ch del ay m u s t t herefo re b e tr e at ed as

h av in g b een cau s ed b y t h e n eg l i g en ce o f t he s t at e); S t ewa r t

, s up ra at 55 4 -5 5 5 (2 ) (b );

Hes ter v. S t a te

, 2 6 8 Ga. Ap p

. 9 4

, 9 7 (2 ) (6 0 1 SE2 d 4 5 6 ) (2 0 0 4 ) (“ W h ere n o reas o n

ap p ears fo r a d el ay

, we m u s t t reat t h e d el ay as cau s ed b y t h e n eg li g en ce o f t h e [s ] t at e

i n b ri n g i n g t h e cas e t o t ri al . [Ci t .] ”).

Th e t ri al co urt ’ s fi rs t fi n d i n g o f fact i n ev al u at i n g th i s fact o r was t h at

“ [i ] n i t i al l y

, n e i t h e r p art y was p rep ared t o t ry t h i s cas e wh en it ap p eared o n t h e fi rs t

s ev eral t ri al cal e n d a r s

. ” Ho wev er, t h ere ap p ears t o b e n o ev i d en ce in t h e reco rd

s u p p ort i n g t h i s fi n d i n g

. Al t h o u g h t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at t h e cas e was co n t i n u ed fro m

t h e fi rs t t ri al cal en d ar o f N o vem b er 2 0 1 3

, we hav e fo u n d n o s p eci fi c reas o n s fo r t h at

co n ti n u an ce i n t h e reco rd an d t h e co u rt ’ s o rd er p ro v i d es n o n e.

W i t h reg ard to t h e n ex t tri al d at e o f J an u ary 2 0 1 4, t h e reco rd s ho ws th at El l i s

m o ved fo r a co n t i n u an ce o n t he g ro u n d t h at t h e st at e h ad fai l ed t o t i m el y p ro v i d e

12d i s co v ery

. A d el ay o n t h at b as i s co u l d n o t be at t ri b u ted t o El l i s “ s i n ce [h e] can h ard l y

b e fau l t ed fo r d em an d i n g t h at t h e [s ] t at e co m p l y wi t h i ts di s co v ery o b l i g at i o n s b efo re

t ri al [b eg i n s ] .” Hes ter

, s u p ra at 9 8 (2 ).

As reco u n t ed ab o ve an d as s et fo rt h i n t he tri al co u rt ’ s o rd er, t h e cas e was t h en

co n ti n u ed fro m tri al cal en d ars i n M arch 2 0 1 4 an d M ay 20 1 4

. Ag ai n, th e reco rd an d

t h e tri al co urt ’ s o rd e r p r o v i d e n o s p eci fi c reas o n s fo r t h es e d el ay s

. In i t s o rd er, t h e

t ri al co u rt referred t o M cW ho rt er’ s t es t i m on y at t h e p l e a i n b ar h eari n g t h at h e

t h o u g h t “ fo r t h e m os t p art

, wh en t h e cas e was g o i n g t o b e co nt i n ued

, t h ere was an

u n d ers t an d i n g b et w een b o t h part i es th at t h ere was a reas o n fo r i t t o b e co n t in u ed

, an d

ev ery o n e co n s en t ed .” W h i l e s u ch t es t i m o ny cert ai n l y h as s o m e r e l e v a n ce in

co n si d eri n g wh o bears res p on s i b i l i t y fo r t h e v ari ou s d el ay s

, i t n ev ert h el es s s h ed s n o

l i gh t o n t h e s p eci fi c reas o ns fo r an y o f t h e d el ay s

. Ag ai n we no t e t h at w h ere n o

reas on s ap p ear, t he d el ay i s at t ri b u t ed t o t h e n eg l i g en ce o f th e s t at e i n b ri n g i n g t h e

cas e t o t ri al

. Ph a n , s up ra at 5 9 4 (1 ) (b ); Hes t er , s u p ra at 9 7 (2 ).

Th e t ri al co u rt n ex t fo un d t h at t h e cas e w as d el ay ed b y t h e s t at e’ s Au g u s t 1 1,

2 0 1 4 m o t i o n t o jo i n t h e fi rs t in fl u en ci n g a wi t n es s cas e wi t h t h i s cas e an d “ [t ] h en in

o r aro u n d Sep tem

b er 2 0 1 4

, [M cW ho rt er] an no u n ced t o t h e [c] o urt t h at he wo u l d b e

fi li n g a Mo t i o n to W i t h d raw. He d i d n o t fi le t h at m o t i o n

, h o wev er, u n t i l No v em b er

132 0 1 4 an d i t was fi n al l y d en i ed b y t h e [c] o u rt i n Feb ru ary 20 1 5 .” Th u s, t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

o rd er g i v es s h o rt s h ri ft t o t h e s t at e’ s m o ti o n t o jo i n t h e cas es an d ap p ears to pl ace s o l e

res p o n s i b i l i t y fo r t h e d el ay fro m Sep t em b er 2 0 14 u n t i l Feb ru ary 2 0 1 5 o n t he d efen s e.

Ho wev er, as reco u n t ed ab o v e, t h e r e c o rd sh o w s t h at t h e cas e was s et fo r t ri al o n

Sep tem b er 5

, 2 0 1 4

, b u t in s t ead o f h ol d i n g a t r i a l o n th at d at e, t he t ri al co urt h el d a

h eari n g o n t h e st at e’ s m o t i o n fo r jo i n d er, wh i ch El l i s o pp o sed ; t h at d efen s e co u n sel ’ s

s u b s eq u en t m o t i o n t o wi t h d raw was n eces s i tat ed b y t h e t r i a l c o u r t ’s jo i n der o f t h e

cas es ; t h at t he s t at e w as un p rep ared fo r t h e fi rs t D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 4 h eari n g o n t h e

wi t h d rawal o f co u n sel

, wh i ch was t h en co n t in u ed ; t h at at t h e n ex t sch ed u led h eari n g

t h e s t at e arg u ed t h at t h e co urt s h o u l d o rd er wi t h d rawal o f d efen s e co u n s el fro m t h e

cas e; an d t h at at t h at h eari n g d e f e n s e co un s el rei t erat ed t h at h e h ad prev i o u s l y

o b je ct ed t o t h e s t at e’ s m o t io n t o jo i n t h e cas es b ecau s e h e was read y o n t h e i n s t an t

cas e an d d i d n o t wan t t o b e fo rced t o wi t h d raw du e t o a p o ten t i al co n fl i ct

. Th u s

, “ [t ] o

l ay b l am e en ti rel y o n t h e d efen s e fo r [t h e d el ay ] un d er t h es e ci rcu m s tan ces wo u l d b e

m an i fes t l y

u n j u s t .” Ph a n , s u p ra at 5 9 3 (1 ) (b ) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Th e t ri al co u rt s u b s eq u en t l y ci ted t h e part i es ’ jo in t m o ti o n f o r c o ntinuan ce fi l ed

i n J u n e 2 0 1 5 a n d t h at “ th e p art i es ag reed t hat t h i s cas e wo u l d b e hel d i n ab ey an ce

u n t i l b o th o f t h e [d ] efen d an t ’ s i n fl u en ci n g cas es we r e t ri ed .” Th e d efen s e cert ai n l y

14b ears s o m e res po n s i b i l i t y fo r acq u i es ci n g i n t h e s t at e’ s p ro p o sal to t ry t h e in fl u en ci n g

cas es b efo re t h e i n s t an t cas e. Bu t i t was s t i l l t h e s t at e’ s d eci s i o n t o rev ers e co u rs e o n

i t s earl ier m o t i o n t o jo i n t h e cas es b y req u es t i ng t h a t t h e co u rt n o w s ev er t h o s e

p rev i o u s l y -jo i ned cas es i n o rd er t o al l o w t h e i n fl u en c i n g c a s e s t o b e t ri ed fi rs t

.

“ Su ffi ce i t t o s ay t h at t h e [s ] t at e can no t rel y o n it s del ay i n p ro s ecu t i n g on e m at t er to

d efeat a co n s ti t u t i o n al s p eed y t ri al cl ai m i n an o th er.” Ru f f i n

, s u p ra at 5 8 ( 2 ) ( b ) (i ).

Th e t ri al co u rt n ex t fo u nd t h at t h e “ i nfl u en ci n g cas es were co n t i n u e d a t t h e

req u es t o f t he [d ] efen d an t ’ s co u n s el i n Sep t em b er an d N o v em

b er o f 2 01 5

. ” H o wev er,

we h av e fo u n d n o ev i d en ce i n t h e reco rd b efo re u s t h at s u p p o rt s t hi s fi n d i n g an d t h e

t ri al co u r t ’s o r d er do es no t ci t e an y s uch ev i d en ce. In d eed

, we n o te t h at wh i l e t h e

p art i es an d t h e t ri al co urt h av e referred to t h e i n fl u en ci n g ch arg es

, th e reco rd b efo re

u s d o es no t ap pear to i n cl u d e t h e i n d i ct m en t s, fi n al ju d g m en t s

, o r an y o t h er p ert i n en t

ev i d en ce as t o p reci s el y

wh at t h o s e ch arg es were o r wh at o ccu rred i n t h os e cas es

.

Th e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t [ad eq u at el y ] b r e ak d o wn t h e o v eral l

p re-t ri al d el ay i n t o rel ev an t t i m e p eri od s an d as si g n res p o n s i bi l i ty fo r

d el ay to each t i m e p eri od

. No r d i d i t co n cl u d e wh et h er t h e d el ay s h o u l d

b e wei g h ed h eav i l y

, s l i g h t l y

, o r neu t ral l y ag ai n st [each p art y ]

. Becau s e

o f t h e p ro ced ural co m

p l ex i t y o f t h i s cas e, t h e tri al co u rt co u l d n o t h av e

ex erci s ed i t s d i s cret i o n pr ope r ly under t h e [ Ba r ker -Do g g et t ] t es t wi t h o u t

d o i n g s o

.

15S

mi th v. S t a t e

, 3 3 8 Ga. Ap p

. 6 2, 6 9 -7 0 (1 ) (b ) (7 8 9 S E 2 d 2 9 1 ) (2 0 1 6) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ). Acco rd i ng l y , o n rem an d t he t ri al co u rt s h o u l d p ro p erl y b reak

d o wn t h e en t i re pret ri al d el ay i n t o rel ev an t t i m e p eri o ds an d co n s i d er al l rel ev an t

fact ors i n “ as s i gn [i n g ] vari o u s d eg rees o f wei g h t t o t h e d i fferen t reas o n s pro v i d ed by

t h e p ro s ecu t i o n an d t h e d efen s e res p ect i v el y .” La yma n

, s u p ra at 8 5 (ci t at io n o m i t t ed ).

(c) Def en da n t ’s a s s er t i o n o

f h i s s p eed y t r i a l r i g h t

.

“ Th e rel ev an t qu es t i o n fo r p u rp o ses o f t h e t h ird s p eed y t ri al fact o r i s wh et h er

t h e accu s ed h as as s ert ed t h e ri gh t t o a s p eed y tri al i n d u e co u rs e. Th i s fact o r req u i res

a cl o se ex am i n at i o n o f t h e p ro ced u ral h is to ry o f th e cas e w i t h p art i cu lar at t en t i o n to

t h e t i m in g

, fo rm

, an d v i g o r o f t h e accu s ed ’ s d em an ds t o b e tri ed i m m ed i at el y .” Ph a n

,

s u p ra at 5 9 5 (1 ) (c) (ci t at i o n s an d pu n ct uat i o n o m it t ed ). Here, t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d

t h at El l i s h ad fi rs t as s ert ed h i s s p eed y t ri al ri gh t i n Au g u s t 2 0 1 5 i n a p ro s e p lea i n b ar

t h at h ad n o l eg al effect b ecau se at t h at t i m e h e was rep res en t ed b y co u ns el

. Th u s

, t h e

t ri al co u rt co n s i d ered o n l y t h e s peed y t ri al cl ai m set fo rt h i n t h e M ay 2 0 16 p lea i n b ar,

an d co n cl u d ed t h at t h i s fact o r “ m u s t t h erefo re b e wei g h ed ag ai n st t h e Defen d an t .”

“ W h i l e th e t ri al co urt wei g h ed t h is fact o r ag ai n st [El li s ]

, i t di d n o t s p eci fy

wh et h er i t wei g h ed ag ai n s t h i m sl i g h t l y o r h eav i ly .” S mi t h

, su p ra at 7 0 (1 ) ( c).

Ad d i t i o n al l y

, i n i t s an al y s i s o f th i s fact o r, t h e t ri al co u rt ov erl o o k ed El l i s ’ Decem b er

161

, 2 0 1 4 p ro s e o b je c t i o n to t h e wi t h d rawal o f h i s co u n s el

, fi l ed aft er th e co u rt h ad

d i s m i s s ed h i s at t orn ey an d b efo re t h e co u rt rei n st at ed co u n sel

. Th e t ri al co u rt en g ag ed

i n n o an al y s i s o f wh et h er t h e ci rcu m s t an ces of th e cas e m i t i g at ed t h e t i m i ng o f El l i s ’

as s ert i o n o f hi s ri g h t

. “ [T] h e wei g h t t o b e at tri b ut ed t o t h i s fact o r m ay be m i t i g at ed

i n so m e cas es

, an d wh et h er t h e ci rcu m s t an ces o f a p art i cu l ar cas e warran t an y

m i t i gat io n i s a q u es t i on co m m i t t ed t o th e s o u n d d i s cret i o n o f t h e t ri al co u rt .” S mi t h

,

s u p ra at 7 1 (1 ) (c) (ci tat i o n o m i t t ed ). On rem an d

, t he t ri al co u rt s h ou l d co n s i d er t h es e

fact ors i n d et erm i n i n g wh et h er El l i s as sert ed h i s ri g h t i n d u e co u rs e.

(d ) Pr ej u di ce t o t h e d

ef en d a n t

.

“ Th e t yp e s o f p reju d i ce as s o ci at ed wi t h an u n reas o n ab l e d el ay b efo re t ri al

i n cl u d e op p res s iv e p ret ri al in carcerat i o n

, an xi et y an d co n cern o f t h e accu s ed

, an d t h e

p o s s i b i l i ty th at t h e accu s ed ’ s defen s e wi l l b e i m p ai red b y d i m

m i n g m em o ri es an d l o ss

o f ex cu l pat o ry ev i d en ce.” Po r t er

, s u p ra at 5 2 9 (4 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

“ Of t h es e fo r m s o f p reju d i ce, t h e m o s t s eri o u s i s t h e l as t

, b ecau se t h e i nab i l i t y o f a

d efen d an t ad eq u at el y to p rep are h i s cas e s k ews t h e fai rn es s o f t h e en t i re s y s t em .”

S t a t e v. Pi cket t

, 2 8 8 Ga. 67 4

, 6 7 7 (2 ) (c) (4 ) (7 0 6 SE2 d 5 6 1 ) ( 2 0 1 1 ) ( c i t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

17In t h i s cas e, we fi n d n o erro r i n t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi nd i n g s t h at t h e p reju d i ce o f

El l i s’ p ret ri al i n carcerat i on wei g h s s l i g h t l y i n h i s fav o r s i n ce h e m ay l o s e t h e

o p p o rt u ni t y t o recei v e a sen t en ce t h at i s at l eas t p art i al ly co n cu rren t wi th t h e o n e h e

i s cu rren t l y s erv i ng

, s ee Leo p o l d v. S t a t e , 3 33 Ga. Ap p . 7 7 7

, 7 8 3 (1 ) (d ) (7 7 7 SE2 d

2 5 4 ) (2 0 1 5 ), an d t hat El l is h as fai l ed t o s h o w t h at h e h as s u ffered an y an x i et y o r

co n cern bey o n d t h a t w h i ch n eces s ari l y acco m p an i es s eri o us pen di ng ch arg es

. See

S wea t ma n v. S t a t e

, 2 8 7 G a

. 8 7 2

, 8 7 5 (6 ) (7 0 0 SE2 d 5 79 ) (2 0 10 ). Ho wev er, we d o

fi nd t h at t h e tri al co u rt erred i n fi n d i n g t h at t h e d efen s e wi l l no t b e i m p ai red b y t h e

d eat h o f m at eri al wi t n es s As hl ey J o n es

, an d i n fai li n g t o co n s i d er wh et h er t h e d eat h

o f p o ss i b l e wi t n es s Tam

m y St an s el l co u l d b e p reju d i ci al

.

a. As h l ey Jo n es

.

In o rd er t o s h o w “ p reju d i ce d u e to t h e u n av ai l ab i l it y o f a wi t n es s, [El l i s ] m u s t

s h o w t hat t h e m i s s i n g wi tn es s co u l d s u pp l y m at eri al e vi d en ce fo r th e d efen s e.” To r r es

v. S t at e

, 2 7 0 Ga. 7 9

, 8 0 -8 1 (2 ) (5 0 8 SE2 d 1 7 1 ) (1 9 9 8 ) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ). At t h e p l ea

i n b ar h eari n g

, at t o r n ey

M cW h o rt er t es ti fi ed t h at As h ley J o nes

, wh o d i ed i n M arch

2 0 1 5

, h ad t o l d h i m t h at wh i le s he was i n cu st o d y w i t h t h e v ict i m

, t h e v i ct im i d en t i fi ed

h ers el f as a p ro s t i t u t e an d recan t ed h er accu s at i o n s ag ai n s t El l i s

. Th i s t es t i m o n y was

18an ad eq uat e p ro ffer o f ev i d en ce s h o w i n g t h at J on es ’ d eat h res u l t ed i n t h e l o s s o f

p o t en t i al ly ex cu l p at o ry

ev i den ce d u ri n g t h e d el ay o f t he cas e.

“ To b e s u re, t h e d eat h of a c r i t i cal defen s e w i t nes s o r des t ru ct i o n o f t an g i b l e

ev i d en ce h i g h l y fav o rab le to t h e d efen d an t wo u l d fi g u re pro m i n en tl y i n an y

ev al u at i on o f th e fo u rt h fact o r, a n d i t w o u l d w ei g h h eav i l y i n fav o r o f fi n d i n g a

v i o l at i o n o f t h e d efen d an t ’ s co n s t i t u t i o n al ri g h t t o a s p eed y t ri al .” R u f f i n

, s u p ra at 6 4

(2 ) (6 ) (i v ). In d eed

, “ [i ] f wi t n es s e s d i e o r d i s ap p ear d u ri n g a d el ay

, th e p reju d i ce i s

o b v i o u s .” St at e v. Red

d i ng

, 27 4 Ga. 8 31

, 8 3 4 (5 6 1 SE2 d 7 9 ) (2 0 0 2 ) (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed ). Th e t ri al co urt ’ s fi nd i n g s t o t he co n t rary reg ard i n g p o t en t i al wi t n es s As h l ey

J o n es were erro n eo u s an d

, o n rem an d

, t h e co u rt m u s t t ak e s u ch p reju d i ce i n to

co n si d erat io n i n d eci d i n g El l i s’ s p eed y t ri al cl ai m

.

b

. Ta mmy S t an s el l

.

In h i s p l ea i n b ar, El l i s al s o as s ert ed t h at h i s e x

- wi fe, Tam m y St an s el l

, wh o

d i ed i n Oct o b er 2 01 3 , wo u l d h av e t es t i fi ed t h at t h e al l eg ed v i ct i m ad m i t t ed t h at t h e

rap e h ad n ev er h ap p en ed

. It ap p ears t h at El l is m ad e n o fu rt her p ro ffer o f St an s el l ’ s

al l eg ed tes t i m o n y at t h e p l ea i n b ar h eari ng

, an d we n o t e th at El l i s m u s t o ffer “ m o re

t h an m ere s p ecu lat i o n ” t h at a wi t n es s m ay h av e p ro v i d ed m at eri al ev i d en ce fo r t h e

19d efen s e. See Di cken s v. S t at e

, 2 8 0 Ga. 32 0

, 3 2 3 (2 ) (6 2 7 SE2 d 5 87 ) (2 0 0 6 ). H o wev er,

t h e t ri al co urt fai l ed t o co n s i d er wh et h er El l i s h ad m ad e an ad eq u at e p ro ffer o r

wh et h er t h i s wi t n es s ’ s t es t i m o n y wo u l d h av e b een fav o rab l e[; i n s t ead ,]

t h e t ri al co u rt [s i m

p l y ] co n cl u d ed t hat [E l l i s ] s u ffered n o p reju di ce

b ecau s e t h e [al l eg ed l y ex cu l p at o ry ] wi t n es s’ s d eat h o c c u rred b efo re

[t he] cas e fi rs t ap p eared o n a tri al cal en d ar. As n o t ed ab o v e, h o wev er,

t h e t ri al co u rt fai l ed t o co n s i d er t h e pret ri al d el ay b et ween [t h e arres t i n

Feb ru ary 20 1 3 ] an d th e fi rs t sch ed u l ed t ri al dat e o f [No v em b er 2 0 1 3 ]

. If [m at eri al ] wi t n es s es d ie o r d i s ap p ear d u ri n g a d el ay , t h e p reju d i ce i s

o b v i o u s [.]

Y or k

, s u p ra at 58 8 (2 ) (b ) (i v ). Co n s eq u en tl y

, on rem an d

, in co n s i deri n g t h e p reju d i ce

fact or, t h e tri al co u rt m

u s t d et erm i n e wh et h er El l i s h as m ad e an ad eq u at e p ro ffer o f

St an s el l ’ s p u rp o rt ed t es t i m o n y

, an d i f s o

, wh et her El l i s h as s h o wn t h at t he wi t n es s

wo u l d h av e s u p p l i ed m at eri al ev i d en ce.

Ju d g men t va ca t ed a n d ca s e r ema n d ed wi t h d i r ect i o n

. Br a n ch a nd Bet h el

, JJ.,

co n cu r

.

20