Opinion
Nos. 69-322 and 69-323
Decided July 30, 1969.
Criminal procedure — Right to speedy trial — Section 2945.71, Revised Code, applicable, when — Only where accused detained under indictment from which he seeks discharge — Delay partly due to accused's actions — "Speedy trial" construed.
IN MANDAMUS.
IN HABEAS CORPUS.
These two actions, one in mandamus, directed to the judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Wood County, and the other in habeas corpus, directed to the sheriff of Wood County, both raise the same question and seek the same relief, the discharge of relator-petitioner, hereinafter referred to as relator, from custody on the grounds that he has been held in jail more than two terms after the return of his indictment, contrary to the provisions of Section 2945.71 et seq., Revised Code, and that he has been denied a speedy trial.
A motion has been made to consolidate these cases, which are before the court on an agreed statement of facts. From the stipulation and briefs the following facts appear.
Relator was arrested in November 1967 on two charges, shooting with intent to kill in Henry County and murder in the first degree in Wood County. He has been in jail ever since. He was first confined in Henry County from November 1967 until December 1968. During that period, he was tried twice on the Henry County charge, the first trial resulting in a hung jury and the second trial in an acquittal in December 1968. He was then transferred to Wood County where, in April 1968, he had been indicted for murder in the first degree. This indictment was served upon him in December 1968. It is stipulated that in March 1969 relator filed an application for immediate trial or discharge, which was overruled. There are three terms of court in Wood County: January, April and September. In 1968, the January term began on January 1, the April term began on April 1 and the September term began on September 2. In 1969, the January term began on January 1, the April term began on April 7 and the September term to begin on September 1.
Messrs. Navarre, Rizor, Dapore Pettit, for relator.
Mr. Daniel T. Spitler, prosecuting attorney, for respondents.
Relator's first argument is that he has been detained in jail more than two terms after his indictment, and thus is entitled to discharge under the provisions of Section 2945.71, Revised Code. That section reads as follows:
"No person shall be detained in jail without a trial for a continuous period of more than two terms after his arrest and commitment on an indictment or information, or, if he was in jail at the time the indictment or information was found, more than two terms after the term at which the indictment or information was presented. He shall be discharged unless a continuance is had on his motion or the delay is caused by his act."
Relator relies on State v. Gray, 1 Ohio St.2d 21. However, the second paragraph of the syllabus of the Gray case defeats relator's argument. That paragraph reads in part as follows:
"Where an accused was in jail at the time an indictment was returned against him and was thereafter detained in jail solely because of that indictment and without any trial thereon for a continuous period of more than two terms of court after the term in which that indictment was presented * * *."
Thus, it can be seen that this section is applicable only where the accused is detained in jail under the indictment from which he seeks a discharge.
Although relator has been in jail for more than two terms, he was not in jail on this charge or under this indictment during such period. Until December 15, 1968 relator was being held in Henry County on a different charge on a different indictment. Relator has been detained in Wood County under the present indictment only since December 15, 1968.
However, relator argues that, even without this section, he is entitled to discharge because he has been denied a speedy trial.
Relator was charged with this crime in November 1967 and indicted in April 1968. He has not yet been tried thereon.
The question is whether, under the circumstances of this case, he has been denied a speedy trial. The fact that he was in jail in another county for trial on a different charge does not affect his right to a speedy trial on this charge.
"The right to a speedy trial is often said to be a relative one to be judged by all the surrounding circumstances." Modern Constitutional Law, Antieau, 336, Section 5:50.
Although relator has been confined in jail some 19 months, for 13 of these months he has been in other county jails, during which time he has been tried twice for a different offense and had a hearing and the granting of a motion for a change of venue. He has actually been held in the Wood County jail for only some six months on this charge. He waited until he was returned to Wood County in December 1968 to request a bill of particulars in this case. He has also filed motions for the taking of depositions. The delay in this case is at least partially the result of relator's own actions.
In determining the question of speedy trial, it must be remembered that a speedy trial does not mean an immediate trial and that relator, by his own actions, has contributed to the delay in this case.
Under the circumstances of this case, it cannot be said that relator has been denied a speedy trial.
In case No. 69-322, writ denied.
In case No. 69-323, petitioner remanded to custody.
TAFT, C.J., MATTHIAS, O'NEILL, SCHNEIDER, HERBERT and DUNCAN, JJ., concur.
This decision was made after the death of JUSTICE ZIMMERMAN and before the appointment of a successor.