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ALLEN COUNTY, Ind. – Defense lawyers for Richard Allen made a startling admission during Tuesday’s jury selection.
Allen’s defense team revealed that hair was found in Abby Williams’ hand that didn’t match Richard Allen. That’s the first time that information has been made public. Attorney Andrew Baldwin made the comments during “mini opening statements” preceding jury selection.
Allen is charged with four counts of murder in connection with the deaths of Abby and her friend Libby German in February 2017. Indiana State Police announced his arrest in October 2022.
While prosecutors say an unspent bullet found at the scene is linked to a gun owned by Allen and cite dozens of confessions from him, Allen’s defense argued those confessions were made under duress and weren’t trustworthy.
They said Allen confessed to details from the crime that were inaccurate. He also confessed to other crimes that didn’t happen, his defense team said.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, three previously selected jurors were dismissed from the trial, bringing the total number of selected jurors down to 11.
One was removed because of childcare issues, another over health concerns. A third was dismissed as well.
By noon, four new jurors were selected, bringing the total to 15. The group now includes 12 jurors and three alternates, with one alternate still needing to be seated.
The current makeup of the jury is 10 women and five men.
Due to the high-profile nature of the case, Allen’s defense team asked for a change of venue. Special Judge Fran Gull, appointed by the Indiana Supreme Court to oversee the case after the original judge recused himself, determined that was logistically challenging.
She decided to bring in jurors from Allen County and have them transported to Carroll County for the trial. Jury selection began Monday.
The jurors will be sequestered for about a month. More than 100 people were expected to testify between the defense and prosecution.
Gull is scheduled to hear some evidentiary motions in the afternoon. Wednesday will mark a break in the trial before an additional hearing on Thursday in Allen County concerning the admissibility of widely circulated composite sketches in the case. The state filed a motion asking the sketches to be excluded from the trial.
Opening statements are scheduled to begin on Friday, when the proceedings shift to Carroll County.