In our last post, we discussed the upcoming August 2017 trial of James Bannister and gave some background information for the continuance motion filed and argued by Terence Lenamon as defense counsel for Mr. Bannister.
It looked pretty solid then that the trial would begin this month.
Things have changed.
Continuance Motion Granted: Bannister Trial Rescheduled
Terry Lenamon filed another motion for continuance, and it has been granted. Now the trial is scheduled to begin in October.
For details, read today’s coverage in the Ocala Star Banner in an article written by Katie Pohlman entitled "Quadruple murder trial pushes to October."
Just one more lesson in how complex these capital cases are — not only factually, but procedurally.
What’s happened?
As you will discover if you read the Ocala article, the Judge announced that there are two reasons for the trial delay.
1. The Medical Examiner’s Schedule; and
2. The 11 Motions to Suppress Evidence filed by Lenamon.
Judge Pope, as quoted in the news piece, stated from the bench that both sides have "put forth a valiant effort" to get the case to trial.
An Alibi Defense
One other factor here: the defense’s need for additional time to investigate an alibi defense. That’s right: an ALIBI.
Update 08/10/2017
The Fourth Motion for Continuance (and the earlier motions as well) have been added to the Terence Lenamon Online Library.
For those of you interested in reading the actual filed motion (or to learn what a continuance motion looks like in Florida death penalty cases), here it is: