Day 2 of trial for father of Oxford High School shooter (March 8)

OXFORD, Mich. – The involuntary manslaughter trial continues Friday for James Crumbley, the father of the Oxford High School shooter.

Prosecutors called two witnesses to the stand on the first day of the shooting, but the proceedings ended early before the defense’s cross examination of a computer crimes expert.

Here are some key details about the case:

• James Crumbley is represented by defense attorney Mariell Lehman. Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald and assistant Oakland County Prosecutor Marc Keast lead the prosecution. Judge Cheryl A. Matthews presides over the case.

• Crumbley is charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter — one for each of the students who were killed by his son during the Nov. 30, 2021, shooting at Oxford High School: 14-year-old Hana St. Juliana, 16-year-old Tate Myre, 17-year-old Madisyn Baldwin, and 17-year-old Justin Shilling.

Click here to watch the court proceedings live.

Here are the live updates from Day 2 of the trial:

James Crumbley arrives

James Crumbley was escorted into the courtroom by two deputies from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.

He sat down next to Lehman and put on his tie, which is not allowed to leave the courtroom with him.

Scene inside courtroom

Shawn Ley is in the courtroom and said there hasn’t been any explanation for the delay in proceedings. Matthews told the jury at the end of Day 1 that she would like to start at 9 a.m. Friday.

Defense attorney Mariell Lehman is in the courtroom. Oakland County Lt. Tim Willis is at the prosecution table.

The jury and Matthews have not yet arrived.

Will James Crumbley testify?

As of Friday morning, March 8, it’s not confirmed whether or not James Crumbley will testify in his own defense.

During her opening statement, Mariell Lehman made an interesting comment that might have given us a hint.

“You will not hear that James Crumbley even suspected that his son was a danger,” Lehman said. “That math homework that the prosecution is putting up on the screen — you’re going to hear about that. You’re going to hear about what other people thought about that — people at the school, including James Crumbley.

“There’s going to be probably quite a bit of discussion about that piece of math homework, ladies and gentlemen, and you’re going to hear all about it.”

When she told the jurors that they’re going to hear what other people at the school thought about the worksheet, “including James Crumbley,” did she mean they would hear from James Crumbley himself, or was she just clarifying that he was one of the people who was at the school?

How many witnesses will testify?

Keast told the jury during his opening statement Thursday that they should expect to hear from “15-20 witnesses.” The prosecution called 21 witnesses during Jennifer Crumbley’s trial, and Jennifer Crumbley was the only person to testify for the defense.

Some of the witnesses from the first trial who might not be involved this time around: Andrew Smith (Jennifer Crumbley’s boss), Amanda Holland (her coworker), and Brian Meloche (the man with whom she was having an extramarital affair.

It’s still unclear whether James Crumbley will testify.

Opening statement length

Keast’s opening statement before the James Crumbley trial was much longer than the one he delivered before the Jennifer Crumbley trial.

His opening statement in the first trial, delivered on Jan. 25, 2024, was just under 13 minutes long. This statement was nearly 23 minutes in length.

Defense attorney Mariell Lehman only spoke for about six minutes.

📄 Revoked communication order

Shawn Ley obtained the order revoking some of James Crumbley’s communication privileges.

“This matter having come on for argument in open court upon the motion of the People, the court having heard the arguments of counsel, and the court being advised in the premises;

“It is therefore ordered:

“The defendant’s phone and table communications at the Oakland County Jail are revoked, except for attorney and legitimate clergy communication, (in judge’s handwriting) or his ability to research or use the tablet for other non-communication purposes.”

Here is the full order that was filed:

Resolution reached

Before a formal motion had to be filed, Lehman and Williams spoke in the hallway and came to a resolution.

“The agreement is going to be that Mr. Crumbley’s communications will be revoked, but not his ability to do research or otherwise participate in his own defense,” Williams said. “So not just communicating with counsel, but his ability to read or get other information, simply communication.”

That is a stipulated order between the defense and prosecution and is designed to expire upon a verdict.

James Crumbley objects to prosecution’s order

On Thursday, James Crumbley was animated when defense attorney Mariell Lehman relayed the prosecution’s order.

“My client is not willing to agree to the order,” Lehman said. “It’s basically restricting his ability to speak to people, judge.”

Williams said he would be happy to make a formal motion that would be ruled on by the judge. But the prosecution wanted to limit James Crumbley’s communication to counsel and clergy.

“He can talk to his attorney and he can talk to legitimate clergy (during the course of the trial),” Williams said.

Late agreement

After the jury left the courtroom, the prosecution — specifically, chief assistant Prosecutor David Williams — raised an issue about James Crumbley’s ability to communicate during the trial.

The cause of the issue was not immediately made clear, but Shawn Ley learned that it stems from his phone use at the jail.

Those jail calls are recorded, and apparently, something James Crumbley said or someone he contacted rose to the level where prosecutors wanted to shut down his communication completely during the trial.

Where we’re at in testimony

When court resumes, Lehman will begin her cross examination of former Oakland County Sheriff’s Office computer crimes expert Edward Wagrowski.

Lehman asked to approach the bench around 3:40 p.m. Thursday after assistant Oakland County Prosecutor Marc Keast completed his questioning of Wagrowski. When the court went back on the record, Matthews sent the jury home for the day.

Trial proceedings so far

If you want to catch up on previous proceedings in this trial, you can read our full update articles linked below.

Today’s schedule

Judge Cheryl Matthews asked the jury to be back at the courthouse and ready to resume proceedings at 9 a.m. Friday.

Court started on time Thursday, and Matthews said they were running “ahead of schedule” before a long late-morning break proceeded the prosecution’s second witness.