Opinion ID: 1094701
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Prejudicial effect of the delay

Text: The defendant may be prejudiced by the fact that he has been detained before trial, that he has suffered anxiety as a result of the delay, or that his defense has been impaired by the delay. Spencer, 592 So.2d at 1388. A defendant suffers no prejudice from detention when he is out on bail. Jasso, 655 So.2d at 34-35. Where incarceration is the only ground raised by the defendant as the basis for prejudice, reversal will generally not be required. Ross v. State, 605 So.2d 17, 23 (Miss. 1992). Anxiety is presumed from the mere fact of delay even where the defendant does not complain that he has suffered anxiety. Jasso, 655 So.2d at 35. Impairment of the defense may occur as a result of witnesses dying or disappearing or of loss of memory on the part of witnesses. Jaco v. State, 574 So.2d 625, 632 (Miss. 1990). Johnson's claims of prejudice include incarceration, anxiety and concern, and memory loss and canned testimony on the part of the State's witnesses.