An Indiana judge will allow news cameras to record a hearing Thursday in the murder case against Richard Allen, who is charged with killing teenagers Abigail Williams and Libby German in Delphi in 2017.
Allen’s attorneys had asked Judge Fran Gull last month to allow cameras to record all future proceedings in the case, while prosecutors said they were concerned cameras would create a “circus atmosphere” with 15 second clips leaving an inaccurate impression of the justice system, as CrimeOnline reported.
Gull restricted her ruling to Thursday’s hearing, “provided that the means of recording will not distract the participants or impair the dignity of the proceedings.” WRTV reported. The judge also noted that the hearing “is a non-confidential proceeding.”
The recording is restricted to news media, defined as a newspaper, periodical, press association, radio station, television station, or wire service.
Gull scheduled Thursday’s hearing “to discuss the upcoming hearing on October 31, 2023, and other matters which have recently arisen” and may include a discussion of a leak of evidence that sent some crime scene evidence into circulation in the social media community surrounding the case, according to WXIN. The Indiana State Police announced an investigation into the leak last week, before Gull set the hearing.
Allen was arrested on October 28 last year at his home in Delphi, for the murders of Willims, 13, and German, 14. The victims were found murdered near the Monon High Bridge on February 14, 2017, after taking an outing to the bridge the day prior. The outing was only meant for a few hours, and when the girls failed to return, family members contacted police.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Featured image: Richard Allen/Police Handout; Libby German & Abby Williams/Handout]
