New York State law requires that a criminal defendant be sentenced "without unreasonable delay." Because it took a Nassau County court some twenty-nine years to sentence Rudy Carter (after he was convicted of rape and sexual abuse in the first degree), the guy argued he should go scot-free.
But there was a slight problem with Carter's position. Apparently, he bolted midway through his trial, and supposedly stayed on the lam for decades. Since his disappearance was the reason for the delay, the Appellate Division, Second Department, refused to modify the outcome. (Although he claimed he wasn't in hiding, Carter wasn't able to show that the authorities knew of his whereabouts.)
That was clearly an unexcused absence.
To read a copy of the Appellate Division's decision, please use this link: People vs. Carter