Opinion ID: 1812932
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Whether the trial court abused its discretion in denying Ruffin's motion for continuance.

Text: ¶ 29. The decision to grant or deny a motion for a continuance is within the sound discretion of the trial court and will not be reversed unless the decision results in manifest injustice. Boone v. State, 973 So.2d 237, 241 (Miss. 2008) (quoting Ross v. State, 954 So.2d 968, 1007 (Miss.2007)). ¶ 30. At a pre-trial hearing on April 2, 2007, Ruffin's counsel, Chokwe Lumumba, made an ore tenus motion for a continuance. Lumumba had requested a continuance a few days earlier, and the trial court had indicated that it would grant a continuance only until April 11. Lumumba, however, could not agree to the April 11 continuance because of conflicts. In renewing his motion, Lumumba maintained that a continuance was necessary due to the complexity of the case and the gravity of the charge. He claimed that he had been unable to adequately prepare for trial due to his earlier suspension from the practice of law. [9] He also argued that there were witnesses who still needed to be interviewed, including Strahan. He contended that he had been notified only one week earlier of the State's intent to call Strahan as a witness. Finally, he alluded to the need for psychological testimony at the suppression hearing. ¶ 31. The trial court denied a continuance. The trial judge reasoned that Ruffin had had the legal services of co-counsel Imhotep Alkebu-lan as early as August 2005. The trial court also afforded Ruffin the opportunity to speak with Strahan before trial. As to the concern regarding psychological testimony, the trial court pointed to the report by Lott in the record that could be used at the suppression hearing. ¶ 32. We find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Ruffin's motion for a continuance. The record shows that, early on, Ruffin had the services of co-counsel. On March 18, 2005, Lumumba and Ali Shamsiddeen filed multiple motions on Ruffin's behalf. Both refered to themselves as Attorney for the Defendant. On March 18, 2005, Ruffin filed a motion for appointment of additional counsel, requesting that Imhotep Alkebu-lan be appointed to serve as co-counsel. [10] Alkebu-lan subsequently made an entry of appearance on August 21, 2006, and is now Ruffin's attorney on appeal. But even if Lumumba had been Ruffin's sole legal counsel from the very beginning, he had adequate time to prepare for trial. Lumumba was reinstated to the practice of law on January 18, 2007, and Ruffin's trial did not start until April 2, 2007. In re the Petition of Chokwe Lumumba for Reinstatement in the Mississippi Bar, 962 So.2d 536 (Miss.2007). Thus, Lumumba had almost three months to prepare. This Court has found no error in similar cases where defense counsel had even less time to prepare. Cole v. State, 405 So.2d 910, 911-12 (Miss.1981) (seven days to prepare for a murder trial); Garner v. State, 202 Miss. 21, 24, 30 So.2d 413, 414 (1947) (seven days to prepare for a capital murder trial). Additionally, Ruffin was afforded the opportunity to interview Strahan before trial, and had undergone a psychological examination by Lott on January 13, 2007. Lott's report was available for use at the suppression hearing.