State v. Searles

The defendant was convicted of first degree murder in the stabbing of Peggy Baker and was sentenced to life imprisonment. He has appealed and has made the following assignments of error: (1) The trial court erred in refusing to suppress certain evidence; (2) The trial court erred in refusing to admit a memorandum written by the defendant’s psychiatrist; and (3) The defendant was denied his right to a speedy trial.

On May 19, 1980, the defendant was a resident of a state-licensed residential care facility. Although 90 percent of the residents required medication for psychiatric disorders, none…