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:
While we realize that filing an appeal is a part of his judicial rights, we wish he would not pursue this course of action and own up to his numerous confessions and accept the conviction he received after a trial of his peers. His actions continue hurting my family with the continued filings along with leaks of evidence and information. We have faith in the Lord and our justice system that our girls will finally get to rest in peace. The girls deserve better than these recent actions that have
The Weineke Law Office, representing Allen, filed the appeal of Allen’s conviction and posted the video under the heading “transparency” on a website called “RickAllenJustice.com.”
The 43-second video had previously only been seen in the courtroom during Allen’s 17-day trial. The jury found Allen, 52, guilty last November, and he was sentenced to 130 years in prison a month later, as CrimeOnline reported.
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
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[Feature Photo:Abby and Libby/Handour]