Murder suspect Bullard withdraws rights-violation claim
Posted on Friday, August 15, 2008
BENTONVILLE - A Gravette man withdrew his claim Thursday that his speedy-trial rights had been violated.
Joel Zachery Bullard, 28, is charged with murder in the first degree, a class Y felony. If convicted, he could receive a sentence of 10 to 40 years or life in prison.
Bullard is acting as his own attorney. He is accused of killing his brother, Darrell Ray Bullard, who was last seen in August 2006. Prosecutors believe Joel Bullard killed his brother and buried the body in a shallow grave.
Bullard previously pleaded not guilty to the charge, describing it as "ridiculous."
Darrell Bullard's remains were found on March 14, 2007, approximately 200 yards behind his stepmother's property at 10526 Georgia Flats Road in western Benton County.
Last week, Bullard claimed his speedy-trial rights had been violated. A speedy trial has been defined as the right of a defendant to have a trial within 365 days of his arrest, modified by excluded and nonexcludable periods of time. For example, delays in the case because of Bullard's attorney issues would not count against a speedy trial.
Deputy Prosecutor Brandon Carter filed a motion showing the periods of excluded time because of Bullard's attorney issues and a period when a mental evaluation for Bullard was ordered in the case.
During Thursday's hearing, Bullard disputed the date he was arrested on the murder charge. Bullard claimed he was arrested March 6, 2007, on the murder charge, instead of Aug. 7, 2007.
Circuit Judge David Clinger reviewed the dates in the court file, but Bullard claimed his arrest date was incorrect.
Carter pointed out that Bullard was arrested in March 2007 on a domestic-battery charge, not on the murder charge.
The judge allowed Bullard to review the file with Bentonville attorney Brad Karren, who is assisting Bullard with the case.
Bullard returned to court and apologized for making a mistake. He agreed he was arrested in August 2007 on the murder charge.
Bullard then asked the court to schedule a jury trial.
Clinger scheduled jury selection to begin Dec. 8.
Bullard is also charged with domestic battery in the second degree for hitting another brother with a metal chair. The battery case is in Circuit Judge Tom Keith's court. Bullard has requested to also represent himself in that case.
Bullard is being held in the Benton County Jail in lieu of $ 150, 000 bond.
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