James Crumbley, father of Oxford High School shooter, requests witnesses to be excluded from trial
(CBS DETROIT) - James Crumbley, the father of the Oxford High School shooter, appeared in an Oakland County court Wednesday morning for a hearing that revolved around what witnesses will testify in his trial.
Witnesses injured in hallway during Oxford High School shooting
Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Marc Keast said that they plan to call two witnesses, identified as K.O. and R.F. Both are students who were injured in the hallway on the day of the shooting. These two witnesses are no longer minors.
Keast argued it is relevant because the witnesses can testify about what they saw when the shooter emerged from the bathroom.
"They have different perspectives," Keast said. "And again, these are the only two surviving members of the hallway that we have confirmed with their families that they are willing and able to testify in this trial."
Defense attorney Mariell Lehman said K.O. and R.F. testifying is not relevant to James Crumbley's trial because it is unfairly prejudicial.
Condition of cable lock
In addition, Keast discussed how they wanted to add the man who originally purchased the firearm to testify. He purchased the gun in May 2021, used it three times, and then sold it back to the firearm store in November 2021.
Keast said this is relevant because it was sold back with the cable lock he had initially purchased it with.
Oakland County Judge Cheryl Matthews is allowing him to testify, as his testimony about the cable lock and its condition could be relevant to the case, but she said she needs more time to decide if she will allow K.O. and R.F. to testify.
Attorneys for James Crumbley have argued that he cannot get a fair trial in Oakland County.
"They have been clearly convicted in the court of public opinion," Lehman said in a court filing last week.
James Crumbley's trial is scheduled for March 5. He is charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter in the Oxford High School shooting, where his son killed four students, Justin Shilling, Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, and Hana St. Juliana, and injured seven other people on Nov. 30, 2021.
He is accused of not getting his son the necessary help for his mental health needs and for purchasing the gun for their son, which was used in the shooting.
On Feb. 6, an Oakland County jury found James Crumbley's wife, Jennifer Crumbley, guilty of four counts of involuntary manslaughter. She is the first parent in the United States to go on trial in a mass school shooting carried out by their child.
Jennifer Crumbley will be sentenced on April 9.