The defendant in the May 2021 shooting death of a New Castle man in Butler County has been held in county prison for four years without bail. He now wants to be released on nominal bail because he has not been tried within 180 days.

Paris E. Carter, 26, of Downingtown, has been charged by state police with homicide in the May 17 death of David A. Hines, who was 38.

Carter has been held in county prison without bail since he was arrested May 26, 2021, in Philadelphia.

Carter, his brother Dante Carter, Hines and another man, who was driving, were traveling in Hines’ car from Pittsburgh to New Castle. Hines was in the front passenger seat and Paris Carter was in the seat behind the driver when police said he shot Hines in the head.

A passerby later discovered Hines’ body in the still running vehicle while it was wedged into a hillside along Portersville Road in Muddy Creek Township.

On Tuesday, Carter’s attorney Matthew Ness argued that Carter has been incarcerated for four years, which is much longer than the 180-day limit to be brought to trial under Rule 600 in the Pennsylvania Code.

Ness’s motion asked Judge Timothy McCune to reconsider the motion. McCune had previously denied the request in February.

Assistant District Attorney Robert Zanella said Carter is not entitled to bail. He said Carter fled after the shooting and then shot his brother Dante in Atlanta, Ga. Authorities in Atlanta are seeking his extradition, Zanella said. Dante survived the shooting.

McCune indicated he was leaning against granting the motion, but didn’t issue a decision. He instructed the attorneys to file briefs containing their arguments.