Opinion ID: 1745175
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: appellant was denied due process of law by the state's failure to grant a preliminary hearing.

Text: Appellant argues that (1) he is constitutionally entitled to a preliminary hearing, (2) he never waived his right to a preliminary hearing, and (3) the State's action denied him a preliminary hearing. The record reflects that on April 3 or 4, 1985, appellant was arrested on a homicide charge and that on April 5, 1985, he was released from custody after executing a $35,000 recognizance bond signed by him and two sureties. The bond was conditioned on his appearing before the Circuit Court of Tishomingo County on the 16th day of September, 1985, at 9:00 a.m. and there to remain from day to day to await the action of the grand jury on a charge of murder. Although presented with this matter, the grand jury did not return a true bill of indictment during the Summer 1985 Term and thereafter, counsel for appellant requested a preliminary hearing in the matter. A Justice Court Judge granted the preliminary hearing over the objection of the district attorney, and the State of Mississippi, feeling that it could not establish a prima facie case, nol prossed the case on the justice court level. The investigation of the case continued, and upon being presented to the grand jury again at the September 1985 Term, a true bill of indictment for murder was returned. Thereupon, appellant was arrested on a capias issued pursuant to that indictment. The purpose of the preliminary hearing is to determine whether or not probable cause exists that the person accused has committed the crime, whether the accused is entitled to bond or should be required to execute bond to await the action of the grand jury. Beard v. State, 369 So.2d 769, 772-73 (Miss. 1979). In the present case, we are of the opinion that when appellant agreed to, and executed with sureties, a recognizance bond in the amount of $35,000, he effectively waived his right to a preliminary hearing. However, when he asked for such a hearing after the grand jury failed to indict him, and the district attorney dismissed the charges against him in the justice court, appellant was under no restraint and was not entitled to a preliminary hearing. There is no merit in this assignment. [1]