Grizzard v. State

BLACKBURN, Presiding Judge.

In this criminal action, William Grizzard appeals the trial court’s denial of his plea in bar, in which he argued that he was denied his constitutional right to a speedy trial. He points to the more than eight-year delay between his arrest and the calling of his case for trial. In light of the extraordinarily long delay, we hold that the trial court abused its discretion in weighing lightly the State’s admitted negligence in bringing this matter to trial and in discounting the actual prejudice that is presumed in delays exceeding five years. Accordingly, we reverse.

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