Defense rests case for Delphi murder suspect
Nov. 7—On Day 17 of the Delphi murder trial, the defense rested its case for Richard Allen, who is accused of killing Abby Williams and Libby German in February 2017.
Judge Fran Gull gave the prosecution and defense two to two-and-a-half hours for closing arguments.
Indiana State Police Master Trooper Brian Harshman, who previously took the stand in the case, was called back by the prosecution on Wednesday to discuss Allen's time in jail. He said Allen was in solitary confinement at both Wabash and Cass County jails when he was at those locations. He added Allen does not have as much human contact now as he once did, and he doesn't have as much recreation time now either, whereas he did while he was housed at Westville Correctional Facility in LaPorte County.
Dr. John Martin, a psychiatrist, also took the stand Wednesday. Allen was his patient while being housed at WCF from November 2022 to November 2023. Martin explained Allen was taken to WCF because county jail officials felt he was in danger at those locations.
Martin was in charge of prescribing Allen's medications while he was in WCF. He added Allen was taking Prozac when he arrived at WCF. Martin stated Allen has not done anything wrong but was being treated like he did, or so he felt.
Even though there was mental harm by putting him in solitary confinement at WCF, Martin stated, the mission was to keep Allen safe.
He added there were times when Allen expressed suicidal ideations.
"We did what we could to see that he was safe," Martin stated.
He continued to explain Allen seemed stable the first few times he spoke with him, but on April 13, 2023, Martin looked in Allen's cell and saw he was lying naked on a mattress with feces smeared on him. He had been eating the excrement. Officers then carried Allen to the shower and "hosed him down," Martin said.
Allen was then taken to the nurse's office and Martin stated the conclusion at that point was that Allen was psychotic. Martin added that while speaking with Allen, he found his insight was deficient and judgment was impaired.
Following an emergency meeting with other doctors, Martin stated, it was decided Allen would be given an involuntary injection of Haldol, which is an antipsychotic. Martin added that on April 18 and 25 Allen was still psychotic but there was some improvement. On April 25, Martin said, Allen was asking for his wife, the warden, chocolate and food from Taco Bell.
On May 2, Martin told the court, he observed Allen to be coherent and there was no evidence Martin could see of psychosis. On May 18, Martin reported, Allen was getting a reasonable amount of sleep and was eating meals, and showed no signs of psychosis. After a few more visits with Allen, Martin said that on June 20, 2023, the decision was made to stop giving Allen the Haldol. It was at that time, Martin stated, that Allen was able to communicate coherently and he told Martin that he would like to apologize to the families of his victims.
