Parents of accused Oxford shooters ask Michigan Supreme Court to dismiss lawsuit | Media Pyro

The parents of the accused Oxford High School shooter are trying again to have the case against them thrown out, this time appealing to the Michigan Supreme Court.

Attorneys for James and Jennifer Crumbley have filed an appeal with the state Supreme Court in an attempt to avoid charges against their parents in connection with the Nov. 30, 2021 mass shooting.

The Crumbles each face four counts of involuntary manslaughter after their son allegedly opened fire at school, killing four students and wounding seven others. Prosecutors allege that the parents neglected their son and his deteriorating mental state, bought him a gun and then used it to terrorize the high school.

Defense attorneys for the Crumbley parents argue that prosecutors cannot legally make a connection between the parents and the involuntary manslaughter charges against them.

In court documents filed Monday with the Michigan Supreme Court, defense attorneys claim that James and Jennifer Crumbley cannot be held responsible because they were not directly involved in the mass shooting and were not responsible for the deaths of others. .” The defense claims that her son, Ethan Crumbley, is solely responsible for the deadly mass shooting.

Attorneys argue that information from Ethan Crumbley’s journals — which highlight his state of mind leading up to the shooting and his frustration with his parents for ignoring his pleas for help — should not be admissible in court. Prosecutors poured over details from the suspect’s shooter’s journal, text messages and more, and shared much of that evidence publicly during court hearings.

See: Councillor’s view, disturbing journal, ‘messy’ house: New evidence revealed in Oxford shooting case

Defense attorneys have already tried to dismiss the case against James and Jennifer Crumbley, which was denied. The attorneys are now seeking a decision from the state’s highest court after the Michigan Court of Appeals denied their request.

You can read the latest court documents in full below.

If the High Court takes some time to consider the demand, the defense lawyers also want the court proceedings in the trial court to be suspended pending a decision. James and Jennifer Crumbley are currently set to go to trial in January 2023 after their trial was postponed by an Oakland County judge in September. Their trial was initially, but tentatively, scheduled to begin on October 24.

The judge and prosecuting attorneys hoped to wrap up the trial before the holidays and the anniversary of the deadly school shooting. Defense attorneys in June believed the Oct. 24 trial date was unattainable, but they have not formally requested a delay.

The trial of Ethan Crumbley, who faces 24 charges despite being an adult, is also scheduled for January next year. The following charges have been brought against him.

• One count of terror causing death;

• four counts of first degree murder;

• seven counts of assault with intent to murder; And

• 12 counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Ethan Crumbley is expected to be called at the parenting hearing, according to the parents’ defense attorneys.

Oakland County prosecutors, opposing defense attorneys, argued that James and Jennifer Crumbley bear some responsibility for the deaths of 14-year-old Hana St. Juliana, 16-year-old Tate Myer, and 17-year-old Madisyn Baldwin. — Old Justin Schilling. Prosecutors are trying to prove that the weapon used in the mass shooting was bought by Crumbley’s parents as a Christmas present for their then-15-year-old son, who attended a gun sale.

Prosecutors contend the parents willfully neglected their son’s needs and well-being and the threat he posed to others.

Read more: Ignored the warning signs? A deep dive into the evidence against the accused Oxford High School shooter’s parents

The full court documents filed on October 10 can be found below.

More: Complete coverage of the Oxford High School shooting