DETROIT (AP) — The Michigan Supreme Court on Tuesday postponed the January trial for the parents of the teenager who killed 4 students at his highschool, a victory for defense lawyers who argue that involuntary manslaughter charges don’t fit.
The court ordered the state appeals court to listen to an appeal from James and Jennifer Crumbley.
The order coincidentally emerged a day before the one-year anniversary of the shooting at Oxford High School. Ethan Crumbley, who was 15 on the time, killed 4 students and injured six more plus a teacher.
The now 16-year-old recently pleaded guilty to murder and terrorism.
The teenager’s parents are accused of ignoring his mental health needs and making a gun accessible at home. Defense lawyers argue that the Crumbleys cannot be held criminally accountable for Ethan Crumbley’s independent acts.
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The Supreme Court said the appeal is restricted as to if there was “sufficient evidence of causation” to send the Crumbleys to trial.
Jury selection in Oakland County court had been scheduled for Jan. 17.
“The Crumbleys didn’t counsel EC within the commission of the varsity shooting or act jointly with EC in any way,” attorney Shannon Smith said in a court filing, using Ethan Crumbley’s initials. “On the contrary, the Crumbleys had no knowledge that their son intended to commit multiple homicides.”
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