James Crumbley Trial: Closing arguments round out monumental case
PONTIAC, Mich. (FOX 2) - Both sides rested their case in the James Crumbley's trial after one witness was called by the defense to kick things Wednesday morning. Closing arguments followed with each side summarizing the case.
Both arguments fell back into the crux of the case: was James Crumbley a grossly negligent father and did his action or inaction lead to the deaths of four students. The decision is up to the jury now.
3:18 p.m. - Jury begins deliberations
2:45 p.m. - Jury instructions read
A jury trial includes a lengthy list of instructions for the jurors before they head into deliberations.
The judge listed all of them before picking three people to serve as alternates.
2:30 p.m. - Prosecution offers rebuttal
During the rebuttal argument from the prosecution, Oakland County attorney said doubt wasn't necessary in the case - but reasonable doubt. The doubts would have to come from any reasonable person using ordinary care in the situation that the defendants was in.
During one moment, she physically locked the murder weapon with the cable lock. "Ten seconds of the easiest, simplest thing," she said.
"If James Crumbley had done anything like the 10-second cable lock or gone home or taken responsibility for his son who was in trouble, those kids wouldn't have been shot in that school on that day," she added.
The murder weapon shown in court. The prosecution locked it during her rebuttal.
1:53 p.m. - "James didn't know. This can be your reasonable doubt"
Defense attorney used her closing statement to point to all of the spots in the evidence where reasonable doubt could be inserted.
It's not that the shooter had access to the gun, but that James didn't know that his son had access, the defense attorney said. The charges presented against James and Jennifer Crumbley were based on "assumptions" and hindsight," she said.
If the prosecution had evidence that proved otherwise, the jury would have seen it, the defense said.
1:44 p.m - Defense offers closing argument
1:20 p.m. - "Beware the claim 'this could be you’"
During her closing statement, McDonald talked about how the Crumbleys were found when they were arrested, how the guns were stored in the home, and the training the shooter appeared to have.
She also talked about the blame in the case, referencing an argument from the defense that James Crumbley could be "any of us."
"This is their defense. This could be you if you let your kid drive a car or leave with a sharp object. This couldn't be everybody," she said. "That doesn't create a criminal charge. It couldn't happen simply because you purchase a firearm or buy your kid a car. Beware of the claim this could be you."
James Crumbley trial: Prosecution's closing arguments
Prosecutor Karen McDonald said James Crumbley not only failed his son, he failed Madiyson Baldwin, Tate Myre, Justin Shilling, and Hana St. Juliana. "James Crumbley isn't on trial for what his son did. He's on trial for what he did and didn't do," she said.
She talked about references to the gun and having access to it in the shooter's journal. Notably, she mentions, the one word not used when discussing the SIG Sauer 9mm handgun is that it was "locked."
12:57 p.m. - What prosecution must prove
There are two theories that can be considered in order to prove someone is guilty of involuntary manslaughter. Each theory is compiled of elements that the prosecution must convince a jury of in order to find the defendant guilty.
Theory One: Gross negligence in the performance of lawful act
- Defendant caused the death
- In doing the act that caused death, defendant acted in a grossly negligent manner
Theory Two: Gross negligence in failing to perform a legal duty
- Defendant had a legal duty to the victim
- Defendant knew of the facts that gave rise to the duty
- Defendant willfully neglected or refused to perform that duty, and her failure to perform it was grossly negligent to human life
- The death of the victim was directly caused by defendant's failure to perform this duty
12:40 p.m. - Closing arguments begin
The prosecution started the final phase of the trial with closing arguments. Prosecutor Karen McDonald explained what their burden was - before pointing the jury toward the victims of the case.
She then launched into the breadth of evidence the past week encompassed.
"James Crumbley isn't on trial for what his son did. He's on trial for what he did and didn't do," she said.
9:54 a.m. - Judge calls recess
The judge has set closing arguments to begin at 12:30 p.m. The jury will get lunch first before the prosecution begins.
9:31 a.m. - Prosecution rests + Defense calls first witness
The prosecution offered no new witnesses in James Crumbley's trial on Day 5. The defense called their first witness: Karen Crumbley, James' sister.
The defense started off with where she lived, then asked about April 2021, which is when Karen and James' mother died. The death of James' mom was brought up during both his and his wifes' trials.
She testified she never saw or heard anything concerning about the defendant's son. Had she seen anything that worried her, she would have addressed it, she testified.
The defense rested after a few redirects.
9:24 a.m. - ATF agent takes the stand again
The prosecution asked Special Agent Brett Brandon for testimony about security footage of the building where Jennifer and James Crumbley were staying.
He did confirm they did go outside to smoke cigarettes multiple times. They didn't leave the property, however.
9:10 a.m. - James Crumbley enters the court
The prosecution and the defense met briefly off the record to discuss the timing of the trial. They could be close to the end of their case.
The prosecution added they would be recalling one witness: Brett Brandon, an ATF agent. The defense also mentioned it would not be calling relatives of James Crumbley as witnesses. They are currently in the courtroom.
Recapping the trial
After Tuesday's testimony, the prosecution said it had called all of its witnesses to the stand. However, they did not rest their case, saying that they wanted a chance to review the evidence once more.
Since witnesses began testifying late last week, there have been numerous days full of emotional testimony.
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James Crumbley trial: What happened on the fourth day
The James Crumbley jury heard testimony Tuesday mostly about his apprehension, though other topics including his son’s journal entries that detailed a desire for a gun to "shoot up" the school.
It is unclear which witnesses, if any, the defense will call.
What is James Crumbley charged with?
James Crumbley is charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, one count for each student killed by his son at Oxford High School on Nov. 30, 2021.
A jury found his wife, Jennifer Crumbley, guilty of the same charges in early February. She will be sentenced on April 9.
What did James Crumbley do?
James Crumbley is accused of buying his son the gun used to kill four people and injure others.
His son pleaded guilty to all charges against him and is now in prison. During his plea hearing, he admitted that he gave James the money to buy the gun.
During Jennifer's trial, she testified that the gun was her husband's responsibility; she said she was not comfortable with guns and was not involved in handling or buying it. She also testified that James had hidden the gun before their son took it to school.
The parents are also accused of ignoring concerns about their son's mental health.
Witnesses called by the prosecution during Jennifer's trial described a meeting between the Crumbley parents and school officials the morning of the shooting. The parents were called after violent drawings were discovered on their son's schoolwork.
During this meeting, a school counselor told the parents to get their son mental health help as soon as possible and recommended that they take him home from school. However, the parents chose not to take him home.
What kind of sentence is James Crumbley facing?
Involuntary manslaughter is punishable by up to 15 years in prison in Michigan. The court does have the discretion to do consecutive sentencing, which, due to the four counts, would be 60 years. However, the maximum he could get will likely be 15 years.
James Crumbley's trial so far
Read recaps of each day of testimony below:
- Teacher, former Oakland County detective testify
- Investigators, gun store owner take stand
- Testimony revolves around guns
- Shooter's journal entries reviewed