Commonwealth v. John Larace

Summary

The court affirmed the defendant’s convictions, holding that the delay before trial did not violate either the applicable speedy-trial rule or the constitutional guarantees of a speedy trial. The court excluded or discounted the disputed periods based on the defendant’s acquiescence or benefit, properly authorized continuances, unresolved motions, witness availability, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Applying the required four-factor constitutional analysis, the court found substantial delay but no intentional or negligent prosecutorial conduct and no demonstrated impairment of the defense.