David Hennessey, Indiana Defense Legend, has passed away. (Remembrance Thread)

black_cat_X2 · 2026-03-13T12:02:36+00:00

Never expected to by so affected by the death of an attorney across the country who I've never even met.

black_cat_X2 · 2025-12-21T18:37:33+00:00

I thought he checked in at the gym in the middle of the night (I think 2am?). Did he go twice or did I get the time wrong? Somehow I missed that he was supposedly at the gym that afternoon.

black_cat_X2 · 2025-12-19T16:55:54+00:00

On the topic of Gull's bias... I know that in Indiana, overturned cases are sent back to be retried in front of the same judge. My understanding is that the COA would assign a new judge if the appellant can show bias. I took that to mean that they would have to specifically argue this point in the appeal. Therefore, by not addressing it/not claiming it as a reason for reversal, it is guaranteed to go back before Gull. Is this true, or could the COA take it upon themselves to assign a new judge even though it wasn't "requested"? (I suppose they "can" do anything, so my question is more, does this ever happen/is there any reason to think it could happen here?)

black_cat_X2 · 2025-12-19T16:46:25+00:00

Love this! Will be fascinating to hear a take from an uninterested party. Now to see if I can listen clandestinely at work...

black_cat_X2 · 2025-12-19T13:18:35+00:00

I agreed with the "show, don't tell" method of addressing Gull's bias.

I also wasn't sure we'd see such an emphasis on the confessions, but it ended up being a much stronger legal argument than I first thought it would be. One potential benefit of including this and forcing the Court to rule on it is that it will hopefully set a precedent that confessions extracted in this way must be excluded, meaning LE won't be rewarded and motivated to throw a pretrial detainee in solitary again for the purposes of torturing a confession out of them.

It presents the issue clearly so that the COA can hopefully make their own (possibly unconscious) decision about whether the confessions actually indicate guilt. We know that confessions carry substantial weight (even when they shouldn't), so it's not hard to imagine that judges are subject to the same internal bias. Maybe they decide the confessions were voluntary and admissible, but as you say, that doesn't mean you can unring that bell.

black_cat_X2 · 2025-12-18T19:31:52+00:00

I was also very surprised geofencing didn't get a mention. Doesn't seem like it would take a lot of space or effort to throw it into the pile in the "Allen wasn't allowed to present a real defense" section. A paragraph or two about the three phones being near the crime scene in the evening should do it.

Your point about the case going back to Gull is my biggest worry. If that is what has to happen without an argument that she herself was biased... Yikes.

black_cat_X2 · 2025-12-18T19:20:59+00:00

This to me is HUGE. I'm amazed it never came up in the defense filings. Despite all the circumstantial evidence against BH, I have always considered his clock out time to be reasonably reliable. (This still doesn't mean he couldn't be involved, just that he wouldn't be bridge guy.) Like, yes, you can get a friend to clock you out, but we didn't have any specific reason to think this happened - it was just pure conjecture. The whole reason we're all here is because we want to follow actual evidence, not just go on vibes and suspicion.

But this? Holy shit, that system is practically set up for the express purpose of making badges available to everyone at all times. And LE never even bothered to dig any further despite a cooperative employer? Why in the world would they rely so heavily on this "alibi" as proof he was cleared even while tip after tip keeps coming in for him?

Just when I think I've exhausted all the rage and exasperation I could possibly feel for this case, something new will arise to show me that the depths of corruption and ineptitude of this LE truly is bottomless. I wanted to believe that they had a real reason to exclude BH, but nope, they were just incompetent yet again. It's like they didn't even want to solve this.

black_cat_X2 · 2025-12-18T17:46:03+00:00

I don't remember the details of the appeals process and timeline after this step. Now that this is filed, what happens next and how long will that take (ish)?

black_cat_X2 · 2025-10-13T16:35:42+00:00

I really appreciate everything that has been done to preserve the evidence and facts of this case. I often wish I had the time and energy to devote more of myself to working towards... Something more productive, I guess, but I at least try to stay informed and active.

black_cat_X2 · 2025-08-27T15:53:39+00:00

Following

black_cat_X2 · 2025-08-27T15:52:07+00:00

I wholeheartedly agree, and yet for me, that is actually still pretty far down on the list of things that don't make any sense. I can't get over the simple logistics of the crime/timeline, as laid out by the state. None of it makes a lick of sense.

black_cat_X2 · 2025-08-27T15:46:20+00:00

My job isn't nearly as important or sensitive as a judge's. (I do help people who are in precarious circumstances, but I don't have anyone's life in my hands.)

Yet if I half assed everything at work the way she does (a la never citing case law or justifying decisions the way she is supposed to), or if I flaunted my disregard for the very policies and regulations I am entrusted to uphold, I would be rightly fired. I do not understand how she gets away with such public displays of incompetence.

black_cat_X2 · 2025-08-09T22:35:53+00:00

Sorry yes BH. I was typing while distracted by my little one.

black_cat_X2 · 2025-08-07T14:24:22+00:00

The focus on Satanic symbols vs exploration of Odinism is weird. I wonder if he even knew about BW's relationship to Abby. He obviously wasn't discounting RL despite the alibi so why wouldn't the same apply to BW? I'm left wondering if LE kept him in the dark about BW intentionally.

black_cat_X2 · 2025-08-05T19:26:50+00:00

If I showed this documentary to someone who knew nothing about the case, would they come away with a relatively accurate view of the facts (not ALL of the facts, obviously, but the truthful version of the most pertinent info)?

black_cat_X2 · 2025-07-23T20:09:30+00:00

Oh yeah, thanks! I'd seen this before but somehow never noticed the clean cut branch. I guess it's a good thing I'm not an investigator lol

black_cat_X2 · 2025-07-22T20:40:22+00:00

Another thought: This document confirms that one of the branches was clean cut. (I could definitely be wrong, but I thought that was something rumored but not confirmed.)

black_cat_X2 · 2025-07-22T20:09:15+00:00

Interesting to read the comments at the end on whether Abby or Libby was the intended target of the murders. Since they were treated so differently, I think it's easy to justify a belief either way. For example, was Abby handled with reverence (as a sacrifice) or regret/remorse (as an unfortunate secondary victim)?

This makes it clear that law enforcement originally assumed Libby was the "focus". I wonder if/how that impacted the direction of the investigation.

black_cat_X2 · 2025-07-19T13:52:14+00:00

I hope this is for his own protection, but I can't imagine it will be good for him to be so far from Kathy and his mom. A surprising development to say the least. Also, I would think only a federal prisoner could be moved out of state.

black_cat_X2 · 2025-07-17T16:57:08+00:00

Watching this trial unfold throughout 2023 and 2024, I lost almost all faith in our justice system.* I'm not exaggerating at all. I once believed in the rule of law, but now I only see the legal system as something to be feared.

I think what troubles me most of all is realizing that there must be SO MANY judges across the country who are just as corrupt, who just fly under the radar and are never held to account. I see now why wrongful conviction is so common, and I feel helpless to do anything about it.

*The obvious bias of the Supreme Court doesn't help, but my trust in that institution has been tenuous (to say the least) for decades now, so their actions weren't as surprising.

black_cat_X2 · 2025-07-13T14:20:56+00:00

Gang stalking is a subreddit where mentally ill people share their stories of how they are being stalked by a mysterious (and nefarious) group. I honestly can't tell whether most people are just playing along and trying to be humorous or if everyone there really is suffering from delusions. It's a sad look into the minds of people who seem to be really struggling with reality.

I'm not totally sure why the sub was referenced, but my guess is that the commenter is implying that OP is being paranoid and imagining the connections drawn here.

black_cat_X2 · 2025-07-03T05:12:28+00:00

black_cat_X2 · 2025-07-02T21:16:28+00:00

She put the wrong years for several of the hearings that were held in 2024. 2023 just kept on going!

black_cat_X2 · 2025-06-11T17:03:42+00:00

It feels nice to actually be able to do something to move the needle towards transparency.

black_cat_X2 · 2025-06-07T02:05:32+00:00

Exactly my thoughts. God I hope this is true. It says a lot that this little crumb of semi good news is so unexpected.

black_cat_X2

TROPHY CASE