Opinion ID: 1353958
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 16

Heading: Failure of Continuance for Further Evaluation

Text: The argument by Sanders that his defense counsel should have requested a continuance in order to allow more time for a more thorough evaluation by Dr. Cooke fails to present any grounds sufficient to justify such a continuance and does not indicate what would have been gained by such a continuance. A review of the entire trial indicates that defense counsel did not hesitate to seek a continuance when he believed one was necessary. In the absence of a motion for a continuance, the presumption must be that counsel did not think one was needed. Cf. Maye v. Commonwealth, Ky., 386 S.W.2d 731 (1965). Sanders has not met his burden of overcoming such a presumption. A review of the record indicates that the psychologist had adequate time to interview and test Sanders, as well as to consider the entire matter. There was no basis for requesting a continuance. RCr 9.04; Taylor v. Commonwealth, Ky., 545 S.W.2d 76 (1976).