(NewsNation) — Opening statements are underway Friday in the long-awaited trial of the man accused of killing two teens in Delphi, Indiana, nearly eight years ago.
Richard Allen, 52, is accused of killing Liberty German, 14, and Abigail Williams, 13, in February 2017 after allegedly luring them to their deaths while they were on a hike not far from their home.
Their deaths had gone unsolved for more than five years when Allen, then a pharmacy worker, was arrested in the case that has drawn attention from true crime enthusiasts.
After an evidence leak, several legal filings, the removal and reinstating of the original court-appointed defense team and other delays in the Delphi murder case, Allen’s trial is now in full swing.
Allen had been there all along in Delphi, living and working in the community of about 3,000 people in northwest Indiana. He faces two counts of murder and two counts of murder while committing or attempting to commit kidnapping. If convicted, Allen could face up to 130 years in prison.
State looks to nix composite sketches
After the girls were found dead, investigators released a grainy image of the suspected killer. However. it would be another five years before Allen was arrested and charged with their murders.
In October 2022, Allen was taken into custody. He’s now charged with four counts of murder in connection with the girls’ deaths.
As the trial begins, attorneys for Allen laid out their argument for why widely circulated composite sketches should be admitted as evidence.
Earlier this week, Carroll County Prosecutor Nick McLeland filed a motion in limine asking the court to prohibit the use of composite sketches during Allen’s trial.
The sketches, released in 2017 and 2019, have been part of the Delphi murders investigation for years. Indiana State released them in hopes of generating leads about the deaths of Williams and German.
McLeland argued the sketches were not used to identify Richard Allen and said using them during the trial could confuse or prejudice the jury.
Attorneys discussed the motion during a hearing in Allen County on Thursday. Judge Fran Gull took it under advisory and has yet to rule.
The state argued that the sketches were produced as part of the investigation for the purposes of recognition, not identification, of a suspect.
Delphi murder trial jury selection
Jury selection in the trial began on Monday.
Around 300 summons were sent to prospective Allen County jurors. Eventually, 12 jurors and four alternates were selected.
The three-day process of culling the jury pool began in Allen County on Monday with 100 prospective jurors scheduled to appear in the courtroom. Allen was present during the proceedings, arriving in a purple shirt, khaki pants and a pair of shackles.
Due to the high-profile nature of the case, Allen’s defense team asked for a change of venue. Special Judge Fran Gull, appointed by the Indiana Supreme Court to oversee the case after the original judge recused himself, determined that was logistically challenging.
She decided to bring in jurors from Allen County and transport them to Carroll County for the trial. Jury selection began Monday.
The jurors will be sequestered for about a month. More than 100 people were expected to testify between the defense and prosecution.
Richard Allen’s defense arguments
Defense lawyers for Allen made a startling admission during Tuesday’s jury selection.
Allen’s defense team revealed that hair was found in Abby Williams’ hand that didn’t match Richard Allen. That’s the first time that information has been made public. Attorney Andrew Baldwin made the comments during “mini opening statements” preceding jury selection.
While prosecutors say an unspent bullet found at the scene is linked to a gun owned by Allen and cite dozens of confessions from him, Allen’s defense argued those confessions were made under duress and weren’t trustworthy.
They said Allen confessed to details from the crime that were inaccurate. He also confessed to other crimes that didn’t happen, his defense team said.
NewsNation affiliate WXIN and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
