The lawyer is incompetent. Is habeas corpus something that he didn’t learn about in law school?
But then again, this is caesar’s court and caesar’s rules. The right to a speedy trial exists, except when it doesn’t.
Why would a lawyer delay even seven years? Several reasons. Witness die or move and can't be located to testify, evidence gets missing, public looses interest and most don't recall the crime, etc. Ineffective Counsel is the new Get Out Of Jail Free Card. The man should have been tried more than six years ago. He'll be a free man likely in less than a year and no conviction.