The trial of Richard Allen, accused of killing two teenage girls in Delphi, Indiana in 2017, is being overseen by a judge in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The judge will address two key issues during a hearing on Tuesday: the length of the trial and which terms might be banned during jury selection.
The trial, which is set to begin with jury selection, is expected to last about three weeks. The prosecution has a list of 118 witnesses, with an additional 70 witnesses expected by the defense. The defense argues that three weeks is not enough time to ensure a fair trial for Allen and will ask the judge to expand the length of the trial.
Cameras will not be allowed in the courtroom for the trial, and certain terms and names may be banned for the defense team during jury selection. Prosecutors believe that the defense may try to influence the jury with terms like “Odinism,” “cult,” “ritualistic killing,” and specific names related to the case.
Previous reports have revealed that Allen made confessions to his wife during a prison phone call and to guards and inmates at Westville Correction Facility. The defense is seeking to suppress these confessions, claiming they were given involuntarily due to Allen’s deteriorating mental health while in poor conditions at the facility.
Despite the defense’s arguments, a judge determined that Allen was being treated better than most inmates during his time at Westville. The hearing on Tuesday will address these issues as the trial of Richard Allen progresses.
