Libby German’s family reacted is to the appeal filed by Richard Allen, an Indiana man convicted of murdering her and Abby Williams in Delphi.
Libby’s grandfather, Mike Patty, shared a statement with 13News:
Although we understand that he has the right to file an appeal, we hope he decides not to proceed and takes responsibility for his numerous admissions, acknowledging the judgment handed down by the jury. His actions, including the repeated appeals and disclosing of evidence, continue to cause pain to my family. We trust in both the justice system and in God that our daughters will finally find peace. Our girls deserve better than the recent behavior that has unfolded.
Allen’s legal representatives at the Weineke Law Office have submitted an appeal against his conviction and shared a video labeled as “transparency” on the website “RickAllenJustice.com.”
The 43-second video, previously only shown in the courtroom during Allen’s 17-day trial, was made public. Last November, the jury found Allen, aged 52, guilty, and a month later, he was given a 130-year prison sentence, according to CrimeOnline.
In the Motion to Correct Errors, Allen’s lawyers highlighted several concerns regarding his trial, including claims that he had been denied his right to legal counsel prior to his initial hearing, issues with a safekeeping order that kept him in state prison for over a year before the trial, and disagreements over which evidence prosecutors could introduce versus what his defense team could present.
After filing the motion, the defense questioned whether the prosecutor had withheld potentially exculpatory evidence. The day after the appeal was filed, they submitted a motion to Special Judge Frances Gull to examine that evidence.
The clerk must compile the case record within 30 days, and the court reporter has 45 days to prepare and file the transcript with the clerk, according to 13News.
The girls were found murdered near the Monon High Bridge on February 14, 2017, after taking an outing to the bridge the day prior. The outing was only meant for a few hours, and when they failed to return, family members contacted police.
One of the girls captured the man’s voice on her cellphone prior to the murders. She also managed to take a photo and record a video clip.
The incident was nicknamed the “Snapchat Murders” after Abby took a photo of Libby at around 2:17 p.m. and put it on social media. Detectives said that after the photo was taken, the killer approached the girls and told them to go “down the hill.”
WATCH HERE: VIDEO of the suspect
LISTEN HERE: AUDIO of the suspect
Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo:Abby and Libby/Handour]
