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Driver waives her right to speedy trial
By BRADY DENNIS
© St. Petersburg Times, DADE CITY -- Shanna Jane West, charged in the fatal wreck that killed Barbara Mercer of Dade City, waived her right to a speedy trial Thursday morning, meaning she gave up her right to a trial within 180 days of her arrest. West, admittedly high on drugs when the accident happened on Nov. 21, is charged with manslaughter by culpable negligence. She had been taking GHB, commonly known as a date rape drug, prior to the accident. West was driving north on U.S. 41 in Land O'Lakes when she crossed the center line and ran head-on into a car carrying Mercer, 54. Three others in the car also suffered injuries. West was arrested in April; a judge ordered her held without bail. At a hearing last month, her bail was lowered, and she posted $20,000 bond. Thursday was the first time she had appeared in court during the case in clothes other than a jail-issued jumpsuit. She wore a short-sleeve shirt with a blue, orange, green and black zigzag design and khaki pants. She also had on a gold necklace, a gold bracelet on her left arm and rings on each of her middle fingers. She hid her head behind her black handbag when she noticed a St. Petersburg Times photographer. "Can I do something about this?" she asked her attorney, Robert Ford of Tampa. "Just chill," he said. When Circuit Judge Maynard Swanson asked if she understood the implications of waiving her right to a speedy trial, West responded, "That's fine, sir." Her tone led members of Mercer's family to shake their heads. West's next court appearance, another pretrial hearing, is scheduled for Sept. 26 in the Dade City courthouse.
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