Biggers v. State

741 So. 2d 1003, 1999 WL 410551
CourtCourt of Appeals of Mississippi
DecidedJune 22, 1999
Docket98-KA-00214-COA
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 741 So. 2d 1003 (Biggers v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Mississippi primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Biggers v. State, 741 So. 2d 1003, 1999 WL 410551 (Mich. Ct. App. 1999).

Opinion

741 So.2d 1003 (1999)

Terry Lamar BIGGERS, Appellant,
v.
STATE of Mississippi, Appellee.

No. 98-KA-00214-COA.

Court of Appeals of Mississippi.

June 22, 1999.

*1004 David Clay Vanderberg, Hernando, Attorney for Appellant.

Office of the Attorney General by W. Glenn Watts, Attorney for Appellee.

BEFORE KING, P.J., PAYNE AND THOMAS, JJ.

PAYNE, J., for the Court:

¶ 1. Terry Lamar Biggers was convicted on the charge of aggravated assault in the Circuit Court of Panola County, Mississippi, Second Judicial District. He has appealed to this Court and presents three issues for our consideration which he claims warrant a reversal of his conviction. We disagree and affirm.

¶ 2. On appeal Biggers argues that he was denied his right to a speedy trial, that the court should have granted his jury instruction on the lesser-included-offense of simple assault, and that the court should have granted his peremptory instruction and motion for new trial and JNOV.

FACTS

¶ 3. Terry Biggers was tried and convicted for the aggravated assault of his wife, Margaret Biggers. Because of marital problems, the couple had separated and Margaret Biggers had filed for divorce. Despite this, the couple was still living in the same house.

*1005 ¶ 4. On Saturday, April 19, 1997, Margaret and a friend, Gary Smith, spent the day together at Margaret's grandfather's farm. During the course of the day on the farm, Margaret received a minor bump to her arm when a horse kicked her. After spending time at the farm, Margaret and Gary Smith went to the Pizza Hut in Batesville. While Margaret and Gary Smith were there eating, Gary Smith's ex-girlfriend, Cynthia Truman, began harassing the couple. When Margaret and Gary were leaving the Pizza Hut, Truman slapped Margaret on the cheek causing some redness to her skin.

¶ 5. On Sunday, April 20, Margaret, after spending most of the day with Gary Smith, returned to her house at approximately 4:30 p.m. Margaret testified that Terry severely hit her when she entered the house. Further, she testified that Terry stomped her with his shoes and threatened her life. Margaret testified that during this attack she jumped out the window and fell about six feet trying to escape. Margaret stated that she drifted in and out consciousness during the attack.

¶ 6. Terry Biggers's version of the facts, not surprisingly, differ somewhat. He testified that Margaret was already injured when she returned to the house. While Margaret was at home, according to Terry, she received additional injuries when she fell off a chair and hit her head on a hardwood table and when she fell in the bathroom on the tub and commode. Terry conceded the fact that Margaret did jump out of the window. However, he testified that she jumped out on her own initiative.

¶ 7. On the evening of April 20, Terry took Margaret to South Panola Community Hospital. At trial, Dr. Tom Glasgow and Dr. William Mayo testified that Margaret had severe injuries to several parts of her body including her facial area. The record indicates that Margaret had three broken bones in her jaw, her nose and her eye orbit. The medical testimony was that her injuries were consistent with a severe beating and not consistent with a series of falls. The cleat pattern on the victim also matched the cleats on the shoes Biggers was wearing the day of the assault.

¶ 8. The South Panola Community Hospital notified the Panola County Sheriff's Department concerning Margaret's injuries, and Terry was placed in police custody. Deputy McGee testified that the blood all over the victim's house was consistent with her having been beaten severely.

DISCUSSION

Was Biggers Denied His Speedy Trial Rights?

¶ 9. Terry Biggers argues on appeal that the trial court erred in denying his motion for lack of a speedy trial. Biggers argues that he was arrested on April 20, 1997, and was not tried until January 12, 1998. Biggers contends that this delay was a violation of his constitutional rights. We disagree.

¶ 10. The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article 3, Section 26 of the Mississippi Constitution both guarantee the right to a speedy trial which attaches at the time of arrest. Atterberry v. State, 667 So.2d 622, 626 (Miss.1995). Where a defendant asserts a constitutional speedy trial violation, the Court considers four factors established by the United States Supreme Court in Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 92 S.Ct. 2182, 33 L.Ed.2d 101 (1972). The factors are length of delay, reason for delay, whether the defendant has asserted his right to a speedy trial, and whether the defendant was prejudiced by the delay. Johnson v. State, 666 So.2d 784, 792 (Miss.1995). No specific mathematical formula exists with regard to how the weighing and balancing must be performed. The totality of the circumstances must be considered, and no one factor is dispositive. McGhee v. State, 657 So.2d 799, 801 (Miss.1995). In Smith v. State, 550 So.2d 406, 408 (Miss.1989), the court stated that any delay of eight months or longer is presumptively prejudicial. *1006 This factor does not require reversal in and of itself, but requires a close examination of the remaining factors. Johnson, 666 So.2d at 792. If a delay is not presumptively prejudicial, the court does not need to examine the remaining factors. Id. Where a delay is caused by the defendant, the constitutional clock is tolled for that period of time. Id. at 793. A delay caused by changes in the defendant's attorney cannot be weighed against the State because it is beyond the State's control. Id. at 792. The period of delay attributable to the defendant and his counsel is to subtracted from the total days of delay. Id.

¶ 11. Our review of the record in this case shows that the time period between arrest and trial constituted a delay of 267 days prior to being tried. This is actually three days under the 270 days established in Smith. Technically, the Court does not have to apply the Barker test to this case. Nonetheless, the Court will apply the prongs of Barker to ensure adequate review of the defendant's constitutional rights.

¶ 12. The court was set to hear Biggers's case on October 13, 1997. Because of the number of cases and order on the docket, the court started the trial of State verses Frank Joe Steed, CR96-13-B-P2 on October 13, 1997. That trial was not complete until October 16, 1997, which left no available time to try this case during the October 1997 term of the court. The trial judge then issued a continuance until the next regular session and scheduled the case for January 12, 1998. Where the reason for the delay is overcrowded dockets, the Mississippi Supreme Court has stated that this will not be weighed against the State. McGhee, 657 So.2d at 802. Biggers filed a motion to dismiss on June 30, 1997, and an order denying the motion was filed on September 9, 1997, following a hearing on August 29, 1997. The total period of delays is well below the eight month limit when these factors are taken into account.

¶ 13. Although a defendant is not required to demand a speedy trial, his assertion will weigh in his favor. Johnson, 666 So.2d at 793. Biggers raised his motion to dismiss two months prior to the actual scheduled date for the trial. This factor weighs in favor of Biggers. However, in Adams v. State,

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Related

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Bluebook (online)
741 So. 2d 1003, 1999 WL 410551, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/biggers-v-state-missctapp-1999.