DELPHI, Ind. — The special judge in the Delphi murders case denied a defense request to have the Indiana Court of Appeals reconsider two of her orders before the trial begins. That means the trial remains scheduled to begin in mid-October.
The defense team for Richard Allen, who is accused of murdering Abby Williams and Libby German, wanted to appeal two previous rulings by the judge. The judge had ruled the jury could hear 61 alleged confessions Allen made while being held in prison. She had also blocked the defense from presenting their ritual sacrifice theory to the jury.
Allen's attorneys wanted her to certify those decisions so they could appeal them. (They can't file with the Indiana Court of Appeals until the decision is certified.) The state argued against the defense motion and urged Gull to keep the established dates for the trial.
On Sept. 11, 2024, Gull denied the motion to certify. That means the defense will not be able to appeal her decision until after the trial is already underway.
Jury selection for the Delphi murders trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 14 in Fort Wayne, with opening statements expected to take place Oct. 18 in Delphi.