CLEARFIELD – As the murder re-trial of Jack E. Allen closed out its second day, the jury learned that Allen planned to commit suicide on July 19, 1995.
On that date, it is alleged that Allen used a shotgun to fire a round into the back of his estranged wife Theresa Allen’s back while the two were at Lawrence Park Village.
New details surfaced Tuesday in front of the jury that revealed at least two dates of great significance.
The first was July 7, 1995. On that date, Allen was ordered to pay child support to Theresa Allen for the couple’s three children. Later that day, he purchased the .12-gauge shotgun that killed Theresa Allen.
Allen told the jury that he bought the gun in question “for the purposes of hunting.”
The second date was July 19, 1995. That evening, as the jury was told on the first day of the trial, Theresa Allen was shot outside her home. But earlier that day, both Allens were in the Clearfield County Courthouse where it was ruled that Theresa Allen should have legal custody of the children.
Allen took the witness stand Tuesday afternoon, revealing that although his estranged wife had a Protection From Abuse order against him stating that he was not to have contact with her or the children or be near Theresa Allen’s home, he went to her home to take her roses.
Because Allen was representing himself, he offered a narrative to the jury rather than responses to questions from a defense attorney.
He said again and again, “I love my wife,” adding that he bought her flowes on July 19, 1995, in an attempt to save their marrage.
“I was trying to do something to get my wife back.
“I loved her very, very much, and I never would have hurt her intentionally.”
Allen offered that he believes witnesses called during the trial lied. He said he thinks the truth will come out eventually.
“I know I’m innocent,” he said.
Allen told the jury that he “couldn’t handle” looking at autopsy photographs of his wife, photos the jury was not permitted to see.
He said that when he went to see his wife that day, he was feeling suicidal.
“That’s why I pulled out that weapon (from the van), to kill myself in front of my wife.”
What did happen, though, Allen said, was the his belt loop or something similar caused the trigger to be pulled and the gun was fired.
“I looked down to see if the safety was on and (the gun) went off. … I did not touch the trigger. It misfired.”
Clearfield County District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr. called upon testimony from eyewitnesses that recounted Allen’s actions after the gun went off. They said he looked at Theresa Allen’s body and then fled Lawrence Park Village in his van.
Shaw said, “If you loved her so much, why didn’t you come to her aid?”
Allen replied that a crowd was beginning to gather near where the incident happened. “I was afraid they were going to come get me. … If I had stayed there, I would have been beaten up or hurt real bad.”
The trial will resume Wednesday at 9 a.m. with closing arguments and Clearfield County President Judge Fredric J. Ammerman’s instructions to the jury. After that, the jury will begin their deliberations.
