DELPHI — During a scheduled three days of hearings at the Carroll County Courthouse, Special Judge Fran Gull is expected to consider multiple key topics for the upcoming trial of murder suspect Richard Allen.
Allen is accused of killing Libby German and Abby Williams in Delphi in 2017. He was arrested in October 2022.
Among the topics to be discussed are:
- Richard Allen’s Safekeeping
- Suppressing statements made by Richard Allen
- Allen’s defense request to dismiss case
- Other trial procedures
TUESDAY
First item on Tuesday's agenda: Richard Allen’s Safekeeping
On Tuesday, Gull decided to take the decision of Richard Allen's safekeeping and the motion to compel and motion for sanctions under advisement.
Allen's defense argued that Allen should be transport to Cass County Jail through the start of his trial due to logistical issues of travel and their client-attorney privilege.
Cass County Sheriff Ed Schroder spoke to the court and issued his thoughts on housing Allen and also noted logistical issues with giving Allen solitary confinement among the crowding in the jail.
The prosecution argued against Allen being moved, saying Allen will be in solitary confinement at the Cass County jail as he is at the Wabash Correctional Facility. The prosecution also voiced concerns about that jail’s ability to provide around the clock medical care for Allen.
Item 2 on Tuesday's agenda: Motion to compel evidence and for sanctions
In the hearing for the motion to compel and motion for sanctions, Allen's defense attorneys asked for guidance on navigating the 26 terrabytes of evidence that was given to them by the state.
According to the defense, the information came in unlabeled and has made it difficult to disseminate.
The prosecution argued that all information given to the defense was provided in the same manner.
The final thing on Tuesday's agenda: Motion to dismiss the entire case
The final motion on Tuesday's agenda was the motion to dismiss the case alltogether.
The defense is accusing Indiana State Police from withholding evidence in the case.
The defense says if they don't receive it, Richard Allen loses this case and is not given a fair trial.
The information the defense claimed is being withheld or destroyed is a suspect's interview(s), data from the suspect's phone extraction that the defense believes occurred, and concerns about the honesty from ISP on the witness stand.
The prosecution argued there is nothing to prove that the state lost, had or destroyed evidence.
Tuesday's hearing was the first time Allen's arms weren't bound to his chest, as he was escorted into court. He wore an orange jumpsuit but this time he had one free hand.
WEDNESDAY
Motions to Suppress
Wednesday's hearing in Carroll County centered on a motion to suppress from Richard Allen's defense team.
The defense is looking to suppress multiple statements of guilt made by Allen in the Westville correctional facility.
Testimony was head from former Westville warden John Galipeau and an internal investigator at the facility.
The hearing brought forth the notion that Allen had admitted guilt to the crime of murder as many as 61 times during his months at Westville Correctional Facility.
A majority of Wednesday's testimony came from Allen's clinical psychologist while in the Westville Correctional Facility regarding Allen's mental breaks.
But much of that testimony was disputed by the state’s witness and a state police investigator saying that many officers inside Westville believed Allen's actions were fake.
The clinical psychologist’s intentions were also questioned by the defense after learning that she posted on social media about the case and admitted to talking with Allen about the case.
WRTV spoke to Allen’s mom who said it’s been so hard because “it’s like we are grieving his death but he’s right there.”
And she also said they have to trust that God has a plan and this will all work out.
THURSDAY
Motion to Limine
In an emotional courtroom, the third day of pretrial hearings in the Delphi Murders took place at the Carroll County Courthouse.
In a day expected to be filled with testimony from six people, the court spent hours hearing from Ritualistic Killings expect Dawn Perlmutter.
Perlmutter explained her stance of believing the killings of Libby German and Abby Williams were committed by Odinists — something Allen's defense team has claimed in the past.
The hearings were filled with emotions from family of the girls as details about the crime scene were discussed.
This hearing is set to determine whether certain topics should be excluded from the trail and jurors.
The prosecution would like for the idea of Odinism and the idea of a third party actor being involved. Testimony from people like Perlmutter are set for the defense to show the validity and need for the topics in the trial.
The judge decided to grant the motion by the defense to vacate the safekeeping order in full. Allen will now go back into the custody of the Carroll County Sheriff.
It is the Carroll County Sheriff’s authority to keep Allen safe. The judge had the change of commitment in her hand but has not actually signed the official order yet.
Sheriff Tony Liggett says he will not disclose where he is going to send Allen.
Because of the safekeeping order being lifted, Allen does not have to stay in solitary confinement.
Sheriff Liggett says solitary confinement will now be based upon his behavior while inside custody.
When the judge granted this motion, Allen had a huge smile across his face and his attorneys were patting him and rubbing him on the back.
On Thursday, a blood splatter expert described in detail how the blood was at the crime scene. These details made family of both Williams and German visually upset.
The blood spatter expert described how Libby’s neck was cut in a way that her carotid and jugular were compromised.
Nine total witnesses spoke in the nearly 12 hours of testimony.
All other motions that have been heard over these three days of hearings are being taken under advisement by the judge and she will issue when she is able.
This story will develop over the days of July 30, July 31 and August 1. Check back for updates.
