MURDER SUSPECT AGREED TO DELAY, JUDGE SAYS

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, January 31, 1993                   TAG: 9301310077
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: E5   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: NORFOLK                                LENGTH: Short
MURDER SUSPECT AGREED TO DELAY, JUDGE SAYS
A prosecutor's paperwork error will not prevent the man accused of slaying a Norfolk State University student from going to trial in March, a Circuit Court judge ruled.
Judge Lydia Taylor ruled that even though Virginia's speedy-trial law was technically violated because prosecutors had not filed an order to delay the trial, the law's intent was not violated.
The defendant, Archie Christian, agreed to delay his own trial and "it was with his full knowledge and concurrence and to benefit him," Taylor said.
Christian, 19, is charged with capital murder and robbery in the slaying of 25-year-old Melvin Gregory across the street from the Norfolk State campus March 25.
His case became highly publicized after one of his lawyers, Danny S. Shipley, asked Taylor to dismiss all charges because former Commonwealth's Attorney Jack Doyle failed to file an order waiving Christian's right to a trial within five months.
State law requires that such orders be filed and approved by the court. Cases against an accused rapist and an accused car thief were thrown out of court this month because prosecutors did not file the orders. - Associated Press
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB