Delphi murders: opening statements and first day of testimony – National & International News – FRI 18Oct2024

Delphi murders: opening statements and first day of testimony.

Last minute reprieve for Texas man condemned to death for crime many believe never happened.

Delphi murders: opening statements and first day of testimony 

The prosecution and defense gave opening statements today in the Delphi murders trial at the Carroll County Courthouse in Delphi, Indiana. In February 2017, Libby German, 14, and Abby Williams, 13, were brutally murdered after being kidnapped while walking on the Monon High Bridge Trail. After five years with no solid leads, Indiana State Police arrested Richard Allen, a local Rite Aid pharmacy tech, for the slayings. 

Prosecutor Nick McLeland gave a 20-minute opening statement. He told the jury about the state’s two main pieces of evidence connecting Allen to the killings. The first is an unfired cartridge that investigators believe was cycled through a Sig Sauer pistol belonging to Allen. The second is a brief video, taken on Libby’s phone, that shows a man, known as “Bridge Guy”. The man walks along the bridge approaching the two girls, and saying the words “Guys, down the hill”. While the man in the video bears some resemblance to Allen, the poor quality of the video prevents a firm identification. Nevertheless, McLeland told the jury that their case would prove that Allen was Bridge Guy.

Defense attorney Andrew Baldwin then gave his statement, which lasted about an hour. Baldwin proclaimed that the state’s investigation was “messed up from the beginning”. He mentioned a strand of hair found in one of the victim’s hands that did not match Richard Allen. Baldwin implied the defense would challenge the state’s timeline of events, showing that Allen was not on the trail when the girls were kidnapped. He also alluded to evidence that the girls had been killed elsewhere and their bodies subsequently moved to the place where they were found. Baldwin spoke about data from Libby German’s cell phone that contradicted the state’s version of events. “Their case is going to fall apart before your very eyes,” Baldwin said. 

Statements from victim’s family

Following opening statements, there was emotional testimony from members of Libby German’s family, including her grandmother Becky Patty. Patty spoke about her last moments with her granddaughter before she and her best friend Abby went to the park. Patty had told her granddaughter to wear a coat, and Libby answered “grandma, I’m going to be okay”. 

Mrs. Patty realized that something was wrong when the girls didn’t show up on time to be picked up. She spoke about the agonizing hours until the girls were found the following day. Patty broke down when recounting moment she learned that the girls had been found. “I couldn’t understand why they weren’t taking me to her. And then I saw the coroner’s van drive by, and that’s when I realized they weren’t alive”.

Investigators also gave jurors an overview of the crime scene, including an aerial view of the area including the Monon High Bridge and the area next to Deer Creek where they were found. Testimony will continue on Saturday. The trial is expected to last about 4 weeks.

How to follow this case

Judge Frances Gull has barred cameras from the courtroom, making it difficult for the public to know what is going on inside. However, some outlets have reporters sitting in on the trial and giving regular updates. The Indianapolis NBC affiliate station WTHR has been providing very good coverage of this case. Anyone interested in following this trial in detail can follow their coverage on WTHR’s YouTube channel. They also have a playlist for the case that you can bookmark here.

Last minute reprieve for Texas man condemned to death for crime many believe never happened

In 2002, Robert Roberson’s 2-year-old daughter Nikki died having suffered some sort of internal brain trauma. At the time, Nikki’s symptoms were widely identified as being particular to shaken baby syndrome. Roberson was later convicted of his daughter’s murder and sentenced to death.

Over the intervening years, the medical consensus has shifted and now recognizes that these symptoms can arise from certain infections as well as accidental falls. Shortly before her death, Nikki had been diagnosed with a viral infection and a fever. From the beginning, Roberson said that he had found his daughter after she fell out of bed before rushing her to the hospital where she later died.  

Many medical experts now believe not only that Roberson is innocent but that there was no crime at all involved in Nikki’s tragic death. Nevertheless, Roberson’s death sentence was due to be carried out yesterday after the Texas board of pardons and paroles denied a request for clemency. The Supreme Court also refused to halt Roberson’s execution, despite the evidence in the case. 

In a possibly unprecedented move, a bipartisan group of Texas State lawmakers who have followed Roberson’s case opted to subpoena Roberson to testify before a House committee about his case. They subpoenaed Roberson to testify on Monday, October 21, five days after his scheduled execution. Ultimately, the Texas Supreme Court sided with the lawmakers and halted Roberson’s execution. Roberson will now be able to give his testimony at the Texas capitol.

Lawmakers admit the subpoena was an effort to buy Roberson some more time. What will happen next in Roberson’s case is unknown. Governor Greg Abbott has so far not publicly commented on the case. Even without a recommendation from the parole board, Abbott could issue a 30-day stay for Roberson’s execution.

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