The legal team for Richard Allen, convicted in the 2017 murders of Abby Williams and Libby German in Delphi, has filed motions seeking additional time and authorization to submit an oversized brief for his appeal. According to WTHR, Allen's lawyers have identified "at least ten possible issues for appeal," with nine involving constitutional claims at both federal and Indiana state levels. The issues for appeal include the rights to present a defense, the constitutionality of incriminating statements made by Allen, the legality of the search of Allen's home, and various evidentiary rulings made during the trial.
Allen, who was sentenced on December 20, 2024, is requesting an extra week beyond the December 10 deadline to prepare the appeal, which is expected to be almost double the size of a normal brief, according to FOX59. The extension request is partially due to an attorney on the case being tied up with another trial until mid-November, and the immense volume of case materials they must incorporate, such as a 1,200-page document underpinning the Odinism theory, which points to alternative suspects and was not admitted in the original trial.
In a strategy outlined last October, Allen's attorneys also reiterated their intent to suppress evidence gathered from the search of Allen's home, which had already been unsuccessful in pretrial motions. This past strategy resurfaced amid ongoing efforts to challenge a verdict that remains resolute despite less than 5% of convictions typically being reversed on direct appeal, FOX59 reported.
Additionally, Allen's legal team has asked the Indiana Court of Appeals for permission to file an appeal brief exceeding the standard 14,000-word limit by an additional 10,000 words. This is crucial due to the complexity of the case which includes a substantial supplemental case transcript and numerous constitutional issues, according to WISH-TV. In documents filed this week, his attorneys remarked, "failing to properly brief these issues would violate Allen's right to effective assistance of counsel and could impact future proceedings."
After a jury found Allen guilty at the end of a 25-day trial last November, his sentence of 130 years was handed down for the murders that occurred near the Monon High Bridge in Delphi.
