State vs. Robert C. Copas

The defendant, Robert C. Copas, was indicted by a Sumner County Grand Jury for one count of aggravated rape. After discovering that the recording of the defendant's preliminary hearing was inaudible, the defendant moved to dismiss the indictment and remand for a new preliminary hearing pursuant to rule 5.1 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure. Following a hearing, the trial court did not dismiss the indictment, but remanded for a new preliminary hearing. The state then moved to dismiss the indictment, arguing that case law requires dismissal of the indictment under these circumstances. The court agreed and dismissed the indictment but the state then brought this appeal. Because the trial court's dismissal of the indictment and remand for a new preliminary hearing was an appropriate remedy for a violation of the Tenn. R. Crim. P. 5.1 (a) the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.