Man Let Out Of Prison 10 Years Into His 30-Year Sentence Because Lawyer Slept Through Trial

Story out of Richmond, Virginia:

A man's 30-year prison sentence for conspiracy and racketeering has been overturned because his lawyer slept on and off throughout his trial.

Nicholas Ragin had served 10 years of his sentence before the US 4th Circuit Court of Appeals threw out his 2006 conviction due to the actions of his lawyer, Nikita V Mackey.

A former police officer and North Carolina State Representative, Mackey was found to have frequently slept for at least 30 minutes at a time throughout his client's trial.

Explaining their decision, Appeals Judge Roger Gregory wrote: "We hold that a defendant is deprived of his Sixth Amendment right to counsel when counsel sleeps during a substantial portion of the defendant’s trial.

One witness testified at the appeals hearing in Richmond, Virginia, that Mackey was asleep "frequently...almost every day morning and evening" for "30 minutes at least". Cont.

Story from - Independent