Three men have been in the Fayette county Kentucky jail for 5 years and 5 months awaiting trial for a murder.

I've never heard of anyone held that long before a trial.

Just guessing that their lawyers aren't pushing for a speedy trial because time in the Fayette Co jail is probably a hell of a lot easier to pull than time in Eddyville.

I've heard Eddyville is no fun at all.

From what I understand, the Fayette Circuit Court Judge has challenged the ability to try two of the suspects in a trial that carries the possibility of the death penalty because of their ages when the murder occurred. One was 17, which excludes him from the death penalty, one was 18, and one was 20.

The state supreme court was asked to get involved. I don't think they ever really reached a conclusion.

Seems fairly odd to me. I don't think very many people anywhere spend 5.5 years in a county jail awaiting trial.

Seems like their right to a speedy trial has already been violated.

Back in the day I knew a local young guy who served some time in the prison in Eddyville. Storehouse breaking or something like that he was convicted of. I read some letters he sent home to a close friend early on in his sentence. I remember him writing how terrified he was shortly after lights went out for the night and hearing screams and begging for help and pleading, "please leave leave me alone" from prisoners in other cells. Said he actually was so terrified he buried his head under bed covers and bawled like a baby.

I know a guy who went to prison for vehicular homicide. They sent him to Eddyville. His grandmother spent two years to get his sent from Eddyville to the minimum security lockup in Fredonia Kentucky. At the time it was known as the Fredonia farm,..because the inmates farmed the place growing vegetables and stuff.

He said it was like being on vacation compared to Eddyville.

No 6th Amendment in Kentucky?

It certainly does seem so.

Or waived by the suspects and their attorneys, because a speedy trial wasn't in their best interest.

Not unusual.

Could be tactic. After 5 1/2 years eveidence could get lost, witnesses memories of details fade, etc. A little absurd to wait that long. Justice delayed is justice denied.

^^^ This would be my guess too.

More often than not, the longer postponed, the better the chance for a lighter sentence.

Will make it easy to cut a deal for a lesser charge eventually. “Son, with time served, you’re already eligible for parole.”

I’ll bet that eventually happens. Two things likely going on with it taking that long. One, is that they are probably pretty clearly guilty of something and aren’t rushing to trial. Two, nobody cared enough about the victim to be raising hell as to justice delayed.

I have trouble believing little andy hasn't already set them free.

5 1/2 years and the Kentucky Supreme Court hasn't reached a decision? Do they get paid by the hour?

If they waived their right to a speedy trial they might want to wait till things quiet down.

It is everyone's right to do so.

It can be waived as long as everyone is on board with it. Someone already said it, it is better than prison and it will be included as time served.

kwg

Is there a terminally ill witness who they're waiting to die?