BATON ROUGE — The trial for Melanie Curtin will have to wait till next year after a delay due to a ruling pending from the Louisiana Supreme Court, UWK has learned.
This week, the First Circuit Court of Appeal ruled that the trial court abused its discretion when it decided to close the courtroom to the public. In its decision, the appellate court said that there was not a “substantial reason” to exclude the public from the courtroom during the adult victim’s testimony. The prosecuting agency, the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office appealed that ruling to the Louisiana Supreme Court. Jury selection was scheduled to begin on Monday, Nov. 17th but due to a pending decision, it is now delayed.
A second chance after a life sentence for rape charge
It goes back to an incident on Nov. 8, 2014 where Curtin was accused of raping an adult woman with the help of Dennis Perkins. Although Curtin’s arrest came around the same time as Dennis & Cynthia Perkins’ arrests, her case had nothing to do with the Perkins or any allegations involving children. Her charge was for the one specific incident with an adult woman and Dennis Perkins.
One key piece of evidence was a 17-minute video that is now sealed, but the jury did watch it to come to a verdict during a week-long trial in Dec. 2021. Curtin has always maintained she cannot recall that night as she was drugged by Perkins, even having gone to the hospital that day.
On Dec. 3, 2021, a unanimous jury found Curtin guilty of aggravated rape (formerly known as first-degree rape) and video voyeurism. In March 2022, Curtin was sentenced to life in prison by Judge Brian Abels.
On Oct. 5, 2023, the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal threw out the conviction and charge that put Curtin behind bars for the rest of her life.
READ MORE: Bond set for Melanie Curtin after Appeal Court rules new trial
In April 2024, the Louisiana Supreme Court denied an appeal by the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office requesting to overturn the First Circuit Court of Appeal’s decision in her case. The Court did not provide any reasons why the request was denied.
Curtin’s original retrial date was set for Aug. 4, 2025.
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