Supreme Court agrees to review Pelley case

Last week, the case was presented to the Supreme Court in Indianapolis, and today it was announced that the Court will take over the jurisdiction of the case.

In April, the Indiana Court of Appeals overturned Pelley’s 2006 murder convictions on the ground that he was denied a speedy trial.

Pelley is serving a 160-year prison sentence for the 1989 shotgun murders of four family members in their Lakeville home. At the trial, it was alleged that Pelley killed his father, step-mother and two young step-sisters to avoid being grounded on prom night.

“There could be severe consequences if prosecutors are not able to pursue evidence that may assist in obtaining a conviction if a defendant can challenge it and eventually cry foul over the time courts take to determine the outcome of a challenge,” says Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter, in a press release.

The Indiana Supreme Court will now determine a ruling in the case.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: bj Location: indiana on Aug 19, 2008 at 09:01 PM
just leave him where he's at he didn't think anything about it when he killed his family..as long as he stays in jail his family can rest in peace..i don't care how much they violated his rights he has no rights because he killed his family in cold blood and didn't think a thing about it..

Posted by: Praying for justice on Aug 19, 2008 at 04:59 PM
This man killed 4 innocent people. He has been convicted of this crime, he needs to pay the consequences for his actions!! Two of his victims were innocent little girls, regardless of his issues with his parents, these little girls were robbed of graduating high school, college, getting married or having their own children. He is were he belongs!

Posted by: Professor Norman Rothenberg on Aug 19, 2008 at 04:53 PM
Back off?! It would be ridiculous for them to back off now when they actually have a shot at victory. They just won a major round. They haven't won the war yet but they certainly now have a good chance of doing so. The Supreme Court could have affirmed the court of appeals without further review ending the case today. Instead through the valiant efforts of the AG, the Indiana Supreme Court has accepted transfer of the case which means they found at least some merit to the states position. Whether their arguments will carry the day in the end remains to be seen, but having gotten this far the AG's office most certainly won't back down. And nor should they. This is a quadruple murder. Four people are dead. The state believes Pelley is guilty and as such they owe it to the victims and the family to give the case their best shot so at least if they fail and Pelley goes free they can at least tell the family that they tried their best.

Posted by: NEWT Location: VALPO on Aug 19, 2008 at 04:19 PM
IF THEY HAD NO EVIDENCE THEN,,WHERE IS THE EVIDENCE COMING FROM NOW??

Posted by: Anonymous Location: USA on Aug 19, 2008 at 03:57 PM
OJ....OJ.... He did KILL people..... STAY in JAIL please..

Posted by: give me a break on Aug 19, 2008 at 12:56 PM
Prosecutor Barnes knew about the family counseling records the day after the murders. That was before the confidentiality law was ever established! There is no excuse for them not pursuing records until after Jeff's arrest in 2002 (13 years later.) Furthermore, the prosecutor's office was allowed to review those records in 2005 or 2006 and found NOTHING to benefit their case and therefore did not submit any part of them as evidence into trial. The A.G.'s office needs to learn when to admit that the state screwed up and back off.

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