Opinion ID: 1288481
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Murder Indictment

Text: First, it must be determined what time periods should be considered. A person's right to a speedy trial only arises when he becomes the accused. United States v. Mac-Donald, 456 U.S. 1, 102 S.Ct. 1497, 71 L.Ed.2d 696 (1982). The time between the dismissal of a charge and the subsequent reinstatement of the charge is not included. See United States v. Loud Hawk, 474 U.S. 302, 106 S.Ct. 648, 88 L.Ed.2d 640 (1986) (finding that the time during which the indictment was dismissed and defendants were free of all restrictions should be excluded from the length of delay factor); Mac-Donald, supra (once charges are dismissed, the speedy trial guarantee is no longer applicable); State v. Chapman, 289 S.C. 42, 344 S.E.2d 611 (1986) (holding that the defendant's speedy trial motion only encompassed the three months between his initial arrest and the dismissal of charges and the nine months between the second arrest and the motion to quash). Therefore, the eleven months between Brazell's initial arrest and the dismissal of the charges and the two years and six months between the second arrest and the motion to dismiss should be considered when deciding Brazell's speedy trial motion. The length of delay in prosecuting the murder charge is disturbing. The delay totals three years and five months. Although delay alone is not dispositive, this delay is sufficient to trigger review of the other three factors. See Waites, supra (finding that a two year and four month delay was sufficient to trigger review). The State offers no justification for the initial eleven months during which time the defendant was detained in jail. The State claims the delay after the re-indictment was necessary because of the complexities of the case including the location of witnesses and piecing together the circumstantial evidence. It also asserts the delay was due to upheaval in the solicitor's office. However, these reasons do not excuse the lengthy delay. It is unclear from the record when Brazell first asserted his right to a speedy trial. Brazell claimed he first asserted his right to a speedy trial in 1992 by filing a habeas corpus petition with the federal court and by filing a motion to dismiss the indictment. Both of these motions were made pro se. However, the prosecution claimed no motions for a speedy trial were actually filed until April 1994 when Brazell's counsel filed a motion. Brazell's motion was heard in June 1994. As discussed in Issue I, Brazell suffered only slight prejudice, if any at all, because of the delay. Although the delay was lengthy and the justification was unsatisfactory, Brazell's right to a speedy trial was not denied when one balances the Barker factors. The long delay was negated by the lack of prejudice to the defense. There is no evidence that the delay was willful or intentional. The trial judge, by setting an August trial date (less than two months away) and warning the prosecution that any further delay would probably result in dismissal, adequately protected Brazell's right to a speedy trial under these circumstances.