In a motion filed on Sunday, October 20, the lawyers asked the court to prohibit testimony “regarding the words and sounds allegedly contained in the video,” citing footage captured by Libby German's cell phone. after she and her friend Abby Williams were found dead.

“Interpreting the words and sounds of the enhanced video requires a completely subjective analysis,” the application says, calling the video footage and sound “poor quality.”

The short video shows a man wearing a blue coat and blue jeans walking along the Monon High Bridge, which the girls crossed on February 13, 2017. The footage became one of the most famous pieces of evidence during the years-long investigation.

The footage also captures a voice saying “down the hill,” another revelation from the video that piqued the public's interest and became the title of true crime shows and podcasts discussing the case.

Delphi Murders 2019: Watch new video of a suspect released by police

Previously unreleased video of the suspect taken from Liberty “Libby” German’s cell phone.

Indiana State Police, Delphi Police

However, the defense argued that the video's words and sounds were “speculative.”

“Allowing a witness to speculate about the words and sounds in the recordings would put ideas in the minds of the jury that would be confusing and misleading,” the document says.

The video was among the only images released of the suspect after the girls' murder. Police also released two composite sketches that appeared to show different men in the years after the girls' deaths. One was shared in July 2017 and the other in April 2019.

Last week, Carroll County Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland signed a motion seeking to prevent the sketches from being presented at trial. He argued the images were based on witnesses describing facial features of the alleged suspect, but noted that they did not see the person long enough to be certain.

Jennifer Auger, one of Allen's defense attorneys, countered in another court case that “the sketches are highly relevant to the extent that they do not resemble Richard Allen.”

Special Judge Frances Gull later ruled that the sketches would not be admitted.

The defense's motion regarding the video comes on the opening day of the second week of the trial.

So far, jurors have heard emotional testimony from family members of the girls, the city's police chief at the time and two men who were involved in the search for the girls.

Contact IndyStar reporter Sarah Nelson at [email protected]