James Crumble and his wife Jennifer were both denied by the judge regarding their request for an upcoming trial. One week after the request was made, on Thursday, Judge Cheryl Matthews rendered her decision of not accepting the same, citing that there was a doubt over their suspicion.
At 1:15 p.m. on Friday, January 7, the Crumbley parents appeared in court as their defense lawyers argued that their bond should be reduced from $500,000 to $100,000 each. The judge, however, denied the application, pointing to what they had done the day they were accused of involuntary manslaughter.
The charges on them were that days after their son was taken into custody for allegedly shooting many people at Oxford High School on November 30, James and Jennifer Crumbley were each charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter. In the shooting, seven pupils suffered critical injuries, and four kids died.
The two former students—who are both above the age of 18 now—were shot by Crumbley’s 15-year-old son, but they survived. In addition, he is also accused of failing to seek mental health treatment and giving his son, the shooter, access to a pistol on four separate occasions of involuntary manslaughter.
When it comes to their defense, Mariell Lehman, the defense lawyer representing James, contended that the case’s extensive media coverage and his wife Jennifer’s previous manslaughter conviction in relation to the Oxford High School shooting precluded him from receiving a fair trial in Oakland County. He stressed the public sentiment and the reputation being diluted in his case and pleaded for the jury to hear the trial.
Moving on, Lehman also requested, “Although I can’t imagine what those two students went through on November 30, 2021, their testimony is not relevant in the trial against James Crumbley.” There are four counts of involuntary manslaughter against him. He is not accused of using a firearm to assault anyone. He is not accused of hurting or shooting anyone. Due to his son’s acts, he faces four counts of involuntary manslaughter.
On the contrary, Marc Keast, the case’s assistant prosecutor, stated that the testimony from the two children would differ from that of the assistant principal, who witnessed Crumbley’s son strolling down the corridor holding a gun, and the teacher, who was also shot.
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