CLEARFIELD – Convicted murderer Jack Allen has had a busy couple of days leading up to his retrial, which is scheduled to start Monday at the Clearfield County Courthouse.
Allen was convicted of killing his wife Theresa Allen in 1995. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently sent the case back to Clearfield County after an appeal found that Allen had not been properly questioned in waiving his right to counsel during the 1995 trial.
Allen faces charges of first degree murder and recklessly endangering another person.
On Dec. 7 during a motion filed by Clearfield County Public Defender Chris Pentz, Allen told Clearfield County President Judge Fredric J. Ammerman that he believed that the Office of the Public Defender was not competent enough to handle a murder case. Chief Public Defender Dan Bell told the judge that a letter Allen sent to the Pennsylvania Superior Court Disciplinary Board regarding Bell and Pentz showed Allen’s lack of faith in the public defender’s office.
Ammerman denied the Dec. 7 motion.
On Wednesday, Allen got his wish after he filed a motion to proceed to trial without an attorney. Ammerman questioned Allen extensively as to his rights, and after that, Allen said he still wished to proceed without counsel.
A representative from the public defender’s office will be on hand as stand-by counsel, however, and any motions and such must be filed through their office by Allen. Allen was ordered to provide a list of witnesses by the end of Wednesday so the public defender’s office could subpoena them.
On Thursday, Allen made a motion asking for funds for expert witnesses. The district attorney’s office then asked for a list of the experts’ reports.
Thursday afternoon, Allen provided the court with that list of potential expert witnesses and reports. Ammerman ruled on Allen’s list, and granted Allen $3,000 to call on certain expert witnesses.
More discussion on one expert witness issue involving the Federal Aviation Administration will be heard on Friday.
Allen is currently being held in Clearfield County Jail as per court order until his trial is finished.