Opinion ID: 2197765
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Defense's Contentions

Text: Dabney argues that the State denied his right to a speedy trial because the State knew it would be seeking to admit DNA testing evidence from January 9, 2006, did not request a DNA lab test until March 1, 2006, yet sought and received continuances from April 6, 2006 to July 13, 2006, to complete its DNA analysis. Although the Superior Court granted the requested continuances, it also ordered production of the analysis by June 13, 2006 with the caveat that if that deadline were not met, the DNA test results would not be admitted. The State did not provide the DNA statistical analysis by June 13, 2006, as 11 Del. C. § 3515 and the Superior Court's order required. The defense, relying on the Superior Court Order's own wording, pressed the issue by seeking to bar the partial DNA analysis as evidence at trial. The State, however, through a prosecutor claiming unfamiliarity with the case, (i) secured another continuance, under color of a need to prepare for a Daubert hearing challenging the quality of its own evidence; and, (ii) furnished Dabney the disputed statistical analysis during the delay this continuance had produced. Dabney contends that because it was possible for the State to prepare a statistical analysis, the State unnecessarily  if not intentionally delayed his trial by seven months, thereby violating his constitutional right to a speedy trial.