Delphi Murders Trial: Day 16

DELPHI – Three witnesses were called to the stand Tuesday morning in the Richard Allen murder trial. Allen faces murder charges in the February 2017 deaths of Abby Williams and Libby German near the Monon High Bridge in Delphi. This is the 16th day of the hearing at the Carroll County Courthouse.

Betsy Blair took the stand for the second time at the hearing. He was called by the prosecution and testified that he was on the Monon High Bridge trails on February 13, 2017. This was the last day Abby and Libby were seen alive by their families. His testimony centered around a car he said he saw near the driveways of the CPS building. He told the court today that the car he saw that day was turned upside down and brought to a point. He said he found it strange. He said the car reminded him of his father’s 1965 Ford Comet. He said it wasn’t a bright color, probably a darker color.

The defense expert was also present at the hearing. Dr. They called Stuart Grassian. He is a psychiatrist hired by the defense to review many of Richard Allen’s mental health records. He also reviewed videos taken of Allen while he was held at Westville Correctional Facility. Dr. Grassian stated that he has studied extensively about solitary confinement and how it can affect a person incarcerated in this way. He testified that Allen showed symptoms consistent with delirium and that he was certain he was showing those symptoms because Allen could not remember. He said Allen told him he was afraid of not being able to remember things. He finished his testimony by talking about how someone’s memories can be affected when they are placed in solitary confinement.

The last witness of the morning, forensic medicine investigator and expert witness for the defense, Dr. Eric Warren. He was called to testify about the single .40 caliber cartridge found at the scene among the bodies of Abby Williams and Libby German. Dr. Oberg had previously testified for the prosecution about this tour. He claimed that the bullet found at the scene was lodged in Richard Allen’s Sig Sauer .40-caliber pistol, and Warren was asked to comment on his findings. Warren says he reviewed all of Oberg’s work and examined photographs of that evidence. Warren disagrees with Oberg’s assertion that conclusions cannot be drawn based on a photo. Dr. He was of the opinion that there was no sufficient match between the bullet Oberg fired from Allen’s gun and the unspent bullet found among the girls’ bodies at the scene. He said he disagreed with the decision to compare the spent bullet casing with the unexpended cartridge found on the ground.

Testimony will continue this afternoon.