Opening Statements Given in Delphi Murder Case

Source: WISH-TV

CARROLL COUNTY, Ind.– A jury of 16 people was selected in Allen County and then taken to Carroll County. They will be isolated, have limited contact with their families, and will not see any media coverage about the case.

Judge Fran Gull ruled this morning that composite sketches of the suspect created by Delphi Police before Richard Allen’s arrest will not be allowed in court.

Prosecutor Nick McLeland gave the state’s opening statement. It lasted 13 minutes. McLeland said the jury would hear from three witnesses who were on the trail that day and say they saw “bridge guy,” who McLeland argues is Allen.

The defense team’s opening statements lasted a little more than an hour. Defense Attorney Andrew Baldwin focused on the police investigation, saying it was “messed up from the beginning.”

He said hair found entwined in Abby’s fingers had a root with DNA. The DNA seemed to possibly match a female relative of Libby, and not Allen. Baldwin claims the bodies of Abby and Libby had been moved after they died and then placed where they were eventually found.

The trial will last several weeks and cost taxpayers over four million dollars.