Abby & Libby - The Delphi Murders - Richard Allen Arrested - #198

[Purdue19]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1845932994273726494

 

[katydid23]

11 jurors selected in Delphi murders trial for Richard Allen​

Allen is accused of killing Libby German and Abby Williams in Delphi, Indiana, in February 2017.

www.wthr.com

In their mini opening statement, the defense said Allen confessed to shooting the girls in the back, but the evidence shows they were not shot. "Richard Allen confessed to a crime he didn't commit," his lawyers said, adding that in the four months prior to his confession, he was "languishing" in solitary confinement in prison. His lawyers said that a psychologist will tell you "these are the ingredients for false confessions" and described the state's evidence as "soft."

In their mini opening statement, the state said that "bridge guy" ... "brutally murdered Abby and Libby, then casually walked back to his car and went home." The "bridge guy" left a clue, the prosecution said, a bullet found at the crime scene. The state said it would prove Richard Allen is the "bridge guy," and that jurors would hear how he allegedly confessed to the murders and why.

That was smart of the State to mention , here and now, that RA left a bullet at the scene. That makes the Defense accusation about the 'false' confession seem 'less false.' If he did have a loaded gun at the CS and left a bullet behind, then that false confession won't seem quite so false, imo.

At one point during defense questioning, Andrew Baldwin, part of Allen's defense team, stood behind him in court with his hands on his shoulders and said, "You guys, look at this man right here. Is it really possible that he might be innocent of this crime?" Allen smiled at the jury and the jury just stared back.

I'm glad they just stared back. lol.
When I read that I think of a smarmy car salesman saying 'look at this sweet Chevy, you don't think I'd sell you a lemon, do ya?'

The state objected. Baldwin then said to the potential jurors, "I need you to look in your hearts and minds."

Baldwin doesn't even realise how cheesy this might seem to the jurors. He should wait and slowly introduce him as a hard working family man, caught up in a mistaken identity nightmare. But to start right off and ask them to look in his eyes and smile back at him? OOF

Even if the jury is selected in just a day or two, opening statements in the trial will not begin until Friday, Oct. 18 as scheduled due to transportation and hotel arrangements for the jury.

 

[arielilane]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1845932994273726494

 

[SouthEnd]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1845932994273726494

This all looks... like clear sailing. I am going to go touch wood and knock wood - I hope the smooth sailing keeps going all the way up to the verdict.

 

[arielilane]

Delphi court finished for today: 14 jurors selected
6 men, 8 women

*One juror had an issue, not necessarily disqualified per my previous tweet.

Court resumestomorrow at 9am to pick the final 2 jurors.

Wednesday will be a day off.

Thursday jury will be sworn in.

Friday is day 1 of the trial.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1845933503386456112

 

[katydid23]

120 defense witnesses? Every grade school teacher he ever had? Every prisoner? Hoping to outlast 5 jurors so 11 can't deliberate?

120 defense witnesses. I'll believe it when I see (read about) it.

JMO

One Hundred and Twenty???? No way. Who could they possibly interview that would add up to 120?

They barely had enough money for 3 to 5 expert witnesses. He does not have a large contingent of family and local friends supporting him, as far as I can tell.

WHO can they be counting in? They only asked for 4 or 5 transport requests. Where are all of these alleged witnesses coming from?

I CALL BS ON THIS NUMBER.

 

[arielilane]

@KylaBRussell

#UPDATE: 14 jurors selected in the #Delphi double murder trial. That leaves two alternate spots open. There are a total of 8 women and 6 men. This is the final update for today. Will be back tomorrow with more! #RichardAllenTrial @WISHNews8

5:08 PM · Oct 14, 2024

 

[arielilane]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1845931659260317866

 

[SouthEnd]

Darling @justtrish

I believe you’ve answered your own question!

They want someone FAIR! As your husband is and part of what qualifies him to be a superlative military leader.

I know jury consulting is a real profession, but to me it seems just a step or two above voodoo. Precisely because of examples like your husband. Green, bald— whatever jury consultants discern from these characteristics is, in my layperson’s opinion, unprovable. I know they do research but in the real world I think it’s unscientific.

Fair is the key. Follow the evidence….the actual evidence and not fanfic…and take it from there.

I will accept the jury’s eventual verdict even if I disagree because this is our most fair system.

IMO

JMO

As always, perfectly put Arkay!

To generalise wildly, I feel like most of us would make for terrible jurors in a murder case. We'd all be there trying to mentally solve the case and poking holes at every person testifying, instead of accepting the evidence as it is given. I am painting with a wide brush, but I believe the less sleuthing-inclined members of the public might be better jurors, since their task is not to solve the case or draw some esoteric conclusions, but simply decide if the evidence rise to BARD or not.

All MOO

 

[acehard]

One Hundred and Twenty???? No way. Who could they possibly interview that would add up to 120?

They barely had enough money for 3 to 5 expert witnesses. He does not have a large contingent of family and local friends supporting him, as far as I can tell.

WHO can they be counting in? They only asked for 4 or 5 transport requests. Where are all of these alleged witnesses coming from?

I CALL BS ON THIS NUMBER.

Maybe the 120 will come as a group and speak in unison! Sounds like a misprint IMO

 

[shonyakay]

One Hundred and Twenty???? No way. Who could they possibly interview that would add up to 120?

They barely had enough money for 3 to 5 expert witnesses. He does not have a large contingent of family and local friends supporting him, as far as I can tell.

WHO can they be counting in? They only asked for 4 or 5 transport requests. Where are all of these alleged witnesses coming from?

I CALL BS ON THIS NUMBER.

Cranks? Haha.

 

[StarryStarryNight]

It sounds like a good part of the defense strategy will consist of a oh-poor-little-guy-just-look-at-him sympathy defense.
So what if RA’s not factually innocent, he is so pitiful and sad he should just be set free.

 

[Salah11]

It sounds like a good part of the defense strategy will consist of a oh-poor-little-guy-just-look-at-him sympathy defense.
So what if RA’s not factually innocent, he is so pitiful and sad he should just be set free.

I still have complete faith he will be found guilty.

 

[Melted]

Regarding the 120 defense witnesses.

Richard Allen has The right to a defense and it is a fundamental right in the United States Constitution.

He is presumed innocent in a court of law until proven guilty, the penalty of the charges brought against him if found guilty would amount to the rest of his life in prison.

He has a right to put on a defense and call as many witnesses as he would like.

MOO

 

[Inthedetails]

Regarding the 120 defense witnesses.

Richard Allen has The right to a defense and it is a fundamental right in the United States Constitution.

He is presumed innocent in a court of law until proven guilty, the penalty of the charges brought against him if found guilty would amount to the rest of his life in prison.

He has a right to put on a defense and call as many witnesses as he would like.

MOO

I think among WSers you'll find all of us know that and agree. We have some very experienced trial watchers here who know the ropes (and the law). But we also know the cases VERY well and offer commentary and opinions as we go along.

Nobody is denying the defendant to witnesses but we are skeptical what 120 of them will offer in this particular case. We'll all find out together.

WSers have been waiting for this trial for 7.5 years.

jmopinion

 

[StarryStarryNight]

I still have complete faith he will be found guilty.

Me too!

 

[Arkay]

As always, perfectly put Arkay!

To generalise wildly, I feel like most of us would make for terrible jurors in a murder case. We'd all be there trying to mentally solve the case and poking holes at every person testifying, instead of accepting the evidence as it is given. I am painting with a wide brush, but I believe the less sleuthing-inclined members of the public might be better jurors, since their task is not to solve the case or draw some esoteric conclusions, but simply decide if the evidence rise to BARD or not.

All MOO

You’re so sweet, @SouthEnd, thank you!

I agree that those of us who steep ourselves in true crime do tend to poke and prod more than the average person who isn’t too interested and just goes by the headlines.

I suppose that’s why I was startled when they said 65% of the jury pool has heard of this case.

I was thinking “no, that can’t be, how could it not be 100%?” They’re in Indiana, and we have people here who know all about this case, even though most of us don’t live locally to this crime. We have people here from every region of the U.S. We have people here from Latvia, Germany, Canada, the U.K., Australia.

Then you’ve reminded me that we are our own breed who delve daily into multiple cases on Websleuths.

Time is up and time will tell. I don’t envy the 12 jurors plus the four alternates who are going to see and hear some tragic details.

Time for justice, at last.

JMO

 

[mrjitty]

Regarding the 120 defense witnesses.

Richard Allen has The right to a defense and it is a fundamental right in the United States Constitution.

He is presumed innocent in a court of law until proven guilty, the penalty of the charges brought against him if found guilty would amount to the rest of his life in prison.

He has a right to put on a defense and call as many witnesses as he would like.

MOO

trials would never end if the defendant could call as many witnesses as he liked!

IMO

 

[Inthedetails]

trials would never end if the defendant could call as many witnesses as he liked!

IMO

And, the accused does not have to call any witness as the burden is on the State to prove the case.

We're soon to see what the prosecution has.

jmo

 

[katydid23]

Regarding the 120 defense witnesses.

Richard Allen has The right to a defense and it is a fundamental right in the United States Constitution.

He is presumed innocent in a court of law until proven guilty, the penalty of the charges brought against him if found guilty would amount to the rest of his life in prison.

He has a right to put on a defense and call as many witnesses as he would like.

MOO

Sure he does. I am just questioning HOW he could have that many.

I've followed trials here for about 25 years. I've never ever seen 120 defense witnesses actually called to the stand. Not even close to that number.

There are usually 3 to maybe 8 or 10 expert witnesses, at most.
Then some character witnesses like friends or co-workers. A hand full at most.
Then who would testify?
Maybe some fellow inmates with something to say? But certainly not a hundred of them.

I bet there will be 6 to 10 witnesses that testify in the end. If they are lucky.

How much time would it take to have 120 witnesses testify? Like three to six months?