Lengthy delay in Robert Long death penalty case denied in Fulton
RAW: Convicted spa shooter Robert Aaron Long in court
Convicted Georgia spa shooter Robert Aaron Long made a court appearance in Fulton County on Monday morning.
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. - Robert Aaron Long returned to court Monday as a Fulton County judge declined to give his new defense team the nine to 12 months it requested to prepare for trial in the death penalty case stemming from the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings.
What we know:
Instead, Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville scheduled a status hearing for Oct. 6, saying he would reconsider additional time only after hearing specifically what work remains.
"I'm going to give you until the 6th of October, and we'll see where you are at that point," the judge told Long's attorney. "If you should want a delay, you're going to need to tell me with specificity what it is you haven't reviewed."
Why the defense wanted more time
What they're saying:
Long's newly appointed lead attorney told the court he needs to review the case from "square one" because of changes to the defense team.
According to the attorney, the prosecution has turned over roughly 180 gigabytes of evidence, in addition to years of defense investigative records. He argued he has an obligation to examine every document, photograph, video and investigative file before moving forward.
"I have to read through every single piece of paper, every single document, every single file," the attorney said. "I have to go back and basically start from square one as if it is a brand-new case to me."
The attorney acknowledged that nine to 12 months was a lengthy request but argued it was necessary to ensure the case is fully prepared and would not have to be retried because of missed issues.
Prosecutors argue against further delays
The other side:
Prosecutors urged the court to allow no more than a three-month delay, arguing the case has already been pending for five years and that most of the legal work has already been completed.
The prosecutor told the court the case is "not a hard case" from a factual standpoint, despite being a death penalty prosecution, and argued that the defense does not need to review every file before the case can continue.
Judge Glanville also expressed concern about the timing of changes to Long's legal team, noting the case was close to being sent to the Georgia Supreme Court for review of pretrial issues before Long's previous lead attorney left the Capital Defender Office.
"The timing is horrible," Judge Glanville said, adding that Long has been in custody for five years and that courts have been instructed to move cases forward as quickly as possible.
Long is accused of killing four people at two Atlanta-area spas in March 2021. He is already serving multiple life sentences after pleading guilty to killing four other people at a spa in Cherokee County.
What's next:
The Fulton County case was previously delayed because death penalty cases require two qualified defense attorneys. If convicted in Fulton County, Long could face the death penalty.
The next hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Oct. 6 in Fulton County Superior Court.