DELPHI, Ind. – On Day 17 of the Delphi murders trial, the defense rested its case.
Defense attorney Bradley Rozzi started Day 17 by announcing the defense was finished presenting its case. The jury was then taken out of court at 9:15 a.m. The state and defense discussed jury instructions.
At one point, the defense team left the courtroom, which remained silent for a long period of time before Allen’s attorneys returned. The prosecution and defense had no objections to jury instructions.
Rozzi asked Gull for additional time to submit a proposal on how to judge the credibility of Allen’s incriminating statements; Gull said the defense had until the “end of business” to submit one.
The prosecution was set to call some rebuttal witnesses. Court was waiting for one of those witnesses to arrive, leading to a delay in court and a break.
Sources said Wednesday’s proceedings would likely wrap up with the lunch break.
The prosecution and defense will deliver their closing arguments on Thursday, setting the stage for the case to go to the jury. Each side will get around two or two-and-a-half hours to deliver closing arguments. Gull said she may offer a “gentle reminder” if attorneys go too long.
The prosecution rested its case on Day 12 of the proceedings. Allen’s defense team spent several days poking holes in the state’s case against their client.
Allen is charged with four counts of murder in the February 2017 deaths of Abby Williams and Libby German near the Monon High Bridge. Indiana State Police announced his arrest in October 2022.
Defense testimony included experts who suggested Allen’s time in solitary confinement may have affected his mental state, leading him to make false confessions. The defense also showed multiple videos of Allen in custody.
During Day 16 of the proceedings, Allen’s attorneys cast doubt on his confessions and the toolmark analysis that the state said matched Allen’s Sig Sauer P226 to an “unspent bullet” found at the murder scene.
They also called a digital forensic expert to the stand who said her analysis showed a headphone jack was inserted into Libby German’s phone at 5:45 p.m. and removed about five hours later.
The defense and prosecution will next make their closing arguments before Special Judge Fran Gull gives instructions as the case goes to the jury.
