Delphi murder suspect's Friday hearing will be a remote court appearance

DELPHI, Ind. — Delphi murder suspect Richard Allen still has a hearing Friday, but Allen, his attorneys, the prosecutor and Judge Frances Gull will remotely attend the hearing.

Media and the public may attend in person at the Carroll Circuit Court.

Gull published an order Thursday moving the hearing from 10 a.m. Friday to 12:30 p.m. Friday.

In her order, Gull agreed to continue arguments for or against setting bond for Allen, who is accused of killing Libby German, 14, and Abby Williams, 13, on Feb. 13, 2017. The new hearing date to consider Allen's possible bail will be scheduled at Friday's hearing.

In Indiana, defendants are entitled to have bail set high enough to ensure their appearance at trial. The exceptions are for the charges of murder and treason. However, a judge might set bail for those charges if the state's case against the defendant is considered to be weak.

Gull's order does not address whether she will reschedule Allen's trial, which currently is scheduled to begin on March 20.

Allen's attorneys motioned last week asking to postpone the hearing to consider setting bail, and Carroll County Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland agreed to the defense motion in a court filing on Monday.

McLeland also filed a motion asking Gull to order barring Allen's attorneys from publishing sensitive evidence before prosecutors release the evidence to them as part of the discovery process.

Gull has not ruled on that motion, according to online court records.

More:Prosecutors file brief arguing that Richard Allen should not receive bond

More:Prosecutor wants assurances Allen's attorneys won't publish sensitive evidence

Police arrested Allen on Oct. 26 and prosecutors charged him with two counts of murder on Oct. 28.

When the charges were filed, McLeland asked for — and received — permission to seal the charging documents and the probable cause affidavit.

Gull later released the charging information and an edited version of the affidavit, but McLeland argued at that hearing that there might be more than one person involved in the killings.

A group of news outlets, including Gannett, the parent company of the Journal & Courier, have renewed a motion this week using the Access to Public Records Act requesting Gull to release McLeland's motion to seal the initial court documents.

Gull has not ruled on that motion, yet, according to the online court documents.

Prosecutors noted in the probable cause affidavit that tool markings on an unfired bullet found at the crime scene indicated it was ejected from a Allen's pistol.

On the video that Libby German made the day she was killed included their first contact with their killer, one of the girls says, "Gun," as their killer walked up behind them, according to the affidavit.

Police and prosecutors have not released the cause of death for the girls.

A warm February day in Delphi

Delphi schools were closed that Monday six years ago, and Libby and Abby got permission to hike the trails east of city.

When they did not show up for their ride home, their families began searching for them.

The search continued the next morning with teams of volunteers looking for the girls.

Their bodies were found about a quarter-of-a-mile east of the Monon High Bridge on the north bank of the Deer Creek.

Police investigated the case for almost six years before finding evidence they believe links Allen to the killings.

Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.