Delphi murders: Richard Allen's lawyers dispute 'bullet' evidence, say he's an 'innocent man' helping cops
DELPHI, INDIANA: Attorneys for Richard Allen, the man charged with the murder of two young girls are disputing claims made by prosecutors in a probable cause. Liberty German, 14, and Abigail Williams, 13, were found shot dead near a hiking trail on Valentine's Day 2017. Lawyers Brad Rozzi and Andrew Baldwin took issue with prosecutors' assertion that the unspent bullet found between the bodies of the teenagers had marks matching a gun owned by Allen.
"It is a bit premature to engage in any detailed discussions regarding the veracity of this evidence until more discovery is received, but it is safe to say that the discipline of tool-mark identification (ballistics) is anything but a science," claimed Allen's lawyers in their three-page affidavit disputing prosecutors' claims, according to CBS. The lawyers alleged that Allen was an innocent man who was trying to help investigators on the case. They added the ballistics discipline has been "under attack" in courtrooms across the country as being "unreliable and lacking any scientific validity."
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Delphi murders: Prosecutors say Richard Allen may not have acted alone, defense says 'wrong guy'
Meaww had previously confirmed that the analysis done on a .40-caliber unspent bullet found by the bodies belonged to Allen. The police also confiscated the gun, which is Sig Sauer Model P226, from Allen's home in October. However, "The defense is confused by such discrepancies in the investigation and will be in a better position to respond as more discovery is received," claimed Allen's lawyers. The attorneys also pointed out that while prosecutors mentioned they believed others may have been involved in the killings, no mention of that belief was made in the probable cause affidavit.
Attorneys said that Allen was the one who contacted the police and voluntarily discussed being on the trail on February 13, 2017, the day police said the girls were killed. They added Allen "wanted to help any way he could." "Without Rick coming forward, the police probably would not have had any way of knowing that he was on the trail that day," his attorneys said. Allen "didn't hear from the police for more than five years," said his lawyers.
His lawyers alleged, that he did not get rid of his car, guns, or clothing that police obtained during his home search. He did not alter his appearance nor did he move away from Delphi. "He did what any innocent man would do and continued with his normal routine," his attorneys said. They suggested that the police are probing the suspect due to a political motive. Sources reported that Allen's attorney said the first time the suspect heard from police was after he initially contacted them which was last month, about two weeks before a contested Carroll County sheriff's election.