Man convicted of killing Delphi teens wants new trial

Last year, Richard Allen was convicted of the 2017 killings of two teens, Abby Williams and Libby German, in Delphi, Indiana.  The question of whether he received a fair trial went before an Indiana appeals court this week.

The appeal case was heard before three Indiana judges. The defense argued the search of Allen’s home was unconstitutional and that the defense was not allowed to provide other evidence.

Read More: Five years after double homicide in Delphi, state police announce arrest

Defense attorney Mark Leeman said confessions Allen made while in solitary confinement should not be admissible as he was isolated awaiting trial.

He said Allen was “kept in there as he descended into psychosis and became gravely disabled, treated worse than anyone else in his situation, and procured statements by exploiting his decompensation.”

Attorney for the state Ellen Meilaender argued that Allen had to be confined for his safety.

“Those ordinary conditions of restrictive housing confinement, do not constitute coercive state action and are not imposed for the purpose of attempting to extract a confession,” she said.

State attorneys also argued that Allen made multiple confessions, including ones that were not when he was in confinement and that he was not coerced.

Allen was sentenced to 130 years in prison for the killings.

Dozens of people attended the hearing in support of Allen’s right to a fair trial.

A decision is not expected to come soon.