In a recent ruling, Oakland County Circuit Judge Cheryl Matthews turned down the requests of James and Jennifer Crumbley for new trials following the 2021 Oxford High School shooting committed by their son, Ethan Crumbley. Despite acknowledged prosecutorial missteps, Matthews determined that these errors did not warrant a retrial. The defense had argued that the prosecution's failure to disclose certain evidence, specifically proffer agreements made with key witnesses, constituted grounds for a new trial.
As reported by the Detroit Free Press, Matthews expressed concern over the lack of disclosure by the prosecution, stating it was "disturbing." However, given the considerable evidence against the Crumbleys, she concluded that this did not "rise to the level" for justifying new trials. The couple was previously convicted of four counts of involuntary manslaughter after their son's deadly mass shooting, which resulted in the deaths of four students and wounded several others. The conviction came with a sentence of 10-15 years prison time for each parent, making history as the first parents held accountable under such circumstances for their child’s actions in a mass shooting.
Prosecutor Karen McDonald, as noted by CBS News, emphasized justice for the victims, stating "These cases have always been about just one thing: justice for Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, Hana St. Juliana, Justin Shilling and the other Oxford victims." Despite the procedural errors, the prosecution argued that the crux of the case remained unaltered, and the convictions were just and fair.
The defense, on the contrary, voiced strong objections to the ruling, as indicated by a statement from defense attorney Michael Dezsi given to the Detroit News, "Hypocritical example of justice." Dezsi further criticized the decision, arguing that the court overlooked the intentional breach of rules by the prosecution, a move poised to undermine public confidence in the judicial system. James Crumbley's attorney, Alona Sharon, echoed this sentiment, contending that the oversight sets a concerning precedent for future cases. Ethan Crumbley, now serving a life sentence without possibility of parole after pleading guilty, is also pursuing an appeal.
