13 Things To Know From The #Delphi Murders Trial Today - Nov 4🧵
1. Important day for the defense. Their star witness was a neuropsychologist who presented compelling evidence that Richard Allen was mentally ill at the time he confessed to killing Abby & Libby. #wthr
1. Important day for the defense. Their star witness was a neuropsychologist who presented compelling evidence that Richard Allen was mentally ill at the time he confessed to killing Abby & Libby. #wthr
2. Dr. Polly Westcott told jurors that she met with Allen in prison to conduct a series of psychological exams on him. She also reviewed prison videos, phone calls Allen made in prison, medical records & staff notes to write a 127-page report with a detailed set of conclusions.
3. Among her conclusions: Richard Allen suffered from Major Depressive Disorder and Psychosis, had significant mental and physical decline, and was not faking or exaggering his mental health problems during the time period that he confessed to killing Abby & Libby.
4. Dr. Westcott’s testimony undercuts statements by the State & its witnesses that Allen was not mentally ill at the time of his confessions & was faking mental illness. It’s a boost for the defense after jurors heard damning phone call confessions last week in Allen’s own voice.
5. To support that testimony, jurors saw 2 videos that show Allen inside his prison cell. Only jurors could see those videos – those of us in the gallery could not. But we were told the videos showed Allen eating his own feces and banging his head against the wall of his cell.
6. Jurors were visibly upset as they watched the videos. Some of them winced and repeatedly looked away. The videos were an effort by the defense to try to convince jurors that Allen’s mental health was so deteriorated in prison that it drove him to make false confessions.
7. Prosecutor Nick McLeland got into a heated exchange with the defense team. He accused them of showing only the worst images of RA in prison to get sympathy from the jury & to turn Allen into the victim. The defense countered by saying the videos simply showed jurors the truth.
8. Allen’s sister & daughter testified next — asked by def atty Andrew Baldwin if they had ever been sexually assaulted by Richard Allen. They both said no.
That supports Dr. Westcott’s testimony that RA falsely confessed to things in prison he did not do due to mental illness.
That supports Dr. Westcott’s testimony that RA falsely confessed to things in prison he did not do due to mental illness.
8a. I want to acknowledge an error on my part this afternoon. As one of 2 pool reporters today, it was my job to report accurate notes to other media who could not attend. While Allen‘s daughter, Brittany, was testifying, she was asked a series of questions…
8b. Among them:
Do you love your father?
Would you lie for him?
While quickly writing her replies, I wrote a series of NOs . That was a mistake. She very clearly responded she DOES love her dad. We quickly identified the error & corrected it for the pool, but it was a huge error.
Do you love your father?
Would you lie for him?
While quickly writing her replies, I wrote a series of NOs . That was a mistake. She very clearly responded she DOES love her dad. We quickly identified the error & corrected it for the pool, but it was a huge error.
8c. When journalists make mistakes, it is important that we take responsibility for them. I sincerely regret the error and hope to be able to apologize to Brittany in person. All of the families involved in this case have been through so much.
9. Steve Mullin, former Delphi police chief and current investigator for the prosecutors office, was back on the stand again today. The defense tried to hammer away at his credibility by highlighting inconsistencies & incomplete info offered in his prior testimony.
10. Then, a much-anticipated second appearance by Brad Weber. He lives right next to the murder scene & last week he shouted at Andrew Baldwin while being questioned about his story & exact location on the day of the murders. Today Weber was somewhat calmer but still feisty.
11. Weber acknowledged he gave different stories to investigators during two separate interviews in Feb 2017. In one, he said he drove his white van right home from work on the day of the murders. In the other, he said he left work and went to service some ATM machines.
12. The difference is important because the State claims one of Allen’s confessions references the van driven by Weber. If Weber did not go straight home from work, the State’s timeline for RA seeing the van right before the murders doesn’t work out the way it was told to jurors.
13. With so much happening in the courtroom today, it’s no wonder our #Delphi Debrief is about 50 minutes this evening. Great to have @SamJohnsonNews join me tonight while Emily is on Election Eve coverage. Here’s a link to the Debrief:
#wthr
#wthr
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