Leila
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I am thinking it's something along these lines. Because if the DA had something that benefited them, a "slam drunk" piece of evidence they why not release it? One would think that if it was in favor of the DA they would want it out there!
Not if disclosure of this new witness and/or information would so harm the defense that the defense could then make the claim that the state has destroyed the suspect's Constitutional right to a fair trial by tainting the jury pool.
In most states, the information/discovery is passed only between the prosecution and defense, and the public is excluded from knowing any of the evidence prior to trial. But, Florida's Sunshine Law, in which it's deemed the public's "right to know", makes it difficult on both the prosecution and defense, as discovery automatically becomes public knowledge. Both sides must handle discovery with discretion and sensitivity.
The prosecution is not asking to withhold the information permanently, only to delay the release of the information. Obviously, the prosecution has some new information that's come as the result of investigation and they only want a delay while they process that information.