Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Oct 4, 2022
State of Missouri, Respondent, vs. Willie Oliver, Appellant.
Willie Oliver appealed his convictions for first-degree rape and domestic assault, arguing the trial court plainly erred by failing to give the correct jury instruction and by denying his right to a speedy trial. The appellate court affirmed the judgment, finding that the instructional error did not result in a manifest injustice because a substantively identical instruction was given at the trial's outset. The court also concluded that Oliver's speedy trial right was not violated, as delays were largely attributable to him or neutral factors like the COVID-19 pandemic, and he failed to demonstrate actual prejudice.