State v. Banks

Citations

• 111 La. 22
• 35 So. 370
• 1903 La. LEXIS 483

Syllabus

<p>CRIMINAL LAW—CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS— CONFRONTING WITNESSES—DELAY IN TRIAL.</p> <p>1. Under the present, as under former, Constitutions, the right, guarantied to the accused in a criminal prosecution, to be confronted with the witnesses against him, is accorded if he is so confronted upon his preliminary examination or at any one of several trials, and is then afforded an opportunity for cross-examination, and he is not entitled to such confronting upon a multiplicity of hearings.</p> <p>2. It cannot be conceded that where an accused person fails to take the steps necessary to secure a speedy trial, and the prosecuting officer, for reasons which, if put to ,the test, would be found insufficient, fails to set the case for trial within a reasonable time, such accused cannot thereafter be tried and convicted.</p> <p>(Syllabus by the Court.)</p>