ROCHESTER HILLS, MI— The defense attorneys representing Jennifer and James Crumbley are seeking to prevent jurors from viewing a video of the deadly Oxford school shooting carried out by the couple’s son in November 2021. The defense argues that the footage would be “overwhelmingly prejudicial” in the upcoming trial. They suggest that instead of showing the shooting video, prosecutors may plan to show footage of the Crumbleys’ arrival at the high school for a meeting with school officials regarding their son’s behavior. The defense believes the video is relevant as it provides information about the parents’ whereabouts and timing during the incident.
The Oxford school shooting resulted in the tragic deaths of four students: Hana St. Juliana, Tate Myre, Madisyn Baldwin, and Justin Shilling. Jennifer Crumbley and James Crumbley have each been charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection to the shooting. Their son, Ethan Crumbley, was already sentenced to life in prison without parole for his role in the incident.
The defense has requested that certain witnesses be blocked from testifying at the couple’s trial. These witnesses include a teacher who was injured in the shooting, an assistant principal who attempted to save a dying student, and an Oxford student named Keegan Gregory, who was trapped in a bathroom with the shooter. Defense lawyers argue that their testimonies could “inflame the passions of a jury.”
Prosecutors, on the other hand, assert that they have the right to present all the evidence necessary to support the charges against the Crumbleys, including the deaths of the four students. They claim that the couple could have prevented the shooting if they had informed school officials about their son’s possession of a gun, which they failed to do during the meeting prior to the incident.
An Oakland County judge has already ruled to block some pieces of evidence in Jennifer Crumbley’s trial, including claims that the couple’s son tortured a baby bird prior to the shooting and allegations of the parents’ infidelity.
While defense lawyers argue that the couple should not be held accountable as they were not directly involved in the shooting, prosecutors contend that there is evidence of gross negligence on the part of the parents. They argue that the Crumbleys ignored warning signs from their son and instead of seeking help, they provided him with a gun.
Jennifer and James Crumbley are the first parents to face charges in connection to a deadly school shooting. They are currently being held in the Oakland County Jail on a $500,000 bond each. After requesting separate trials, they are scheduled to begin on January 23, although it remains uncertain who will go first.
In summary, defense attorneys for Jennifer and James Crumbley want to prevent the jury from seeing a video of the deadly Oxford school shooting carried out by their son. They argue that the footage would be prejudicial to the parents’ upcoming trial. The defense believes that prosecutors plan to show footage of the couple’s meeting with school officials instead. The tragic incident claimed the lives of four students, and both parents have been charged with involuntary manslaughter. The defense has requested the exclusion of certain witnesses, while prosecutors argue that the charges reflect the parents’ gross negligence. The separate trials of Jennifer and James Crumbley are set to begin on January 23.