State v. Broussard, 239 N.C. App. 382 (Feb. 17, 2015)

Although the issue does not appear to have been raised by the defendant on appeal in this second-degree murder case, the court noted: “[O]ur review of the record shows defendant was arrested on 1 September 2009 and was tried in August and September of 2013, almost four years later. . . . The record on appeal does not show any motions for speedy trial or arguments of prejudice from defendant.” The court continued, in what may be viewed as a warning about trial delays:

While we are unaware of the circumstances surrounding the delay in bringing defendant to trial, it is difficult to conceive of circumstances where such delays are in the interest of justice for defendant, his family, or the victim’s family, or in the best interests of our citizens in timely and just proceedings.