Sixteen Times Willie Barker’s Murder Case Was Set for Trial

Multiple Choice

Sixteen times Willie Barker’s murder case was set for trial, and sixteen times it was continued. At first the defense readily agreed, gambling that Barker’s codefendant would be found not guilty. Thus, some of the continuances were caused by the six separate trials before the codefendant was finally convicted. Other continuances were granted because of the illness of the police investigator. It was not until five years after arrest that Barker was convicted of murder.
-The right to a speedy trial

A) was violated by a five year delay.
B) is a relative, not an absolute, right.
C) was an absolute constitutional mandate.
D) is a right of the prosecution but not the defense.