A court appearance for a man accused of stabbing and severely injuring an ice skating instructor has been delayed for the sixth time.
Ryan T. Halligan, 30, is accused of committing a brutal assault on Emaly “Emma” Baxter outside the Hamilton Center Ice Arena last fall.
Documents allege the defendant, who was driving a stolen car, attacked the former professional skater by beating, stabbing and choking her after a car accident in the arena’s parking lot. Investigators say Halligan admitted being under the influence of methamphetamine and heroin in the hours prior to the early morning attack.
Halligan is facing five felonies, attempted murder, a Level 1 felony; aggravated battery, a Level 3 felony; criminal confinement while armed with a deadly weapon, a Level 3 felony; strangulation, a Level 6 felony and auto theft, a Level 6 felony, according to court documents. In addition, two misdemeanor charges — operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person and interference with the reporting of a crime — were also filed against the defendant.
If convicted of all charges, the defendant could face a potential sentencing range of 27 to 79 years in prison, as well as fines of up to $60,000. But longer sentences and larger fines are possible because the prosecutor’s office is also seeking to have Halligan sentenced as a habitual offender if found guilty.
While the incident took place on Oct. 23, 2020, key court hearings have been pushed back.
These delays have been attributed to several factors that include statewide jury bans, the coronavirus, changes in attorneys and court-ordered psychiatric examinations. However, some postponements were requested by the defendant, according to online court records.
After appearing via video conferencing for an initial hearing on Nov. 13, 2020, two bond hearings were later postponed and the first delay of court dates were announced out of concern of the COVID-19 threat.
After the defendant made a request for a fast and speedy trial on Dec. 8, the pandemic prompted the Indiana Supreme Court to suspend all jury trials from Jan 21 through March 1.
During this period, Halligan was found guilty of four infractions of regulations at the Bartholomew County Jail that officials say were related to one or more physical assaults or confrontations with either inmates or staff. On Feb. 12, Halligan petitioned for a new public defender, which Worton initially denied.
After the ban on trials was lifted, Halligan waived his right on April 8 to a fast and speedy trial — only to change his mind a week later and ask that his right be reinstated. Saying he would not accept a plea bargain, the defendant told the court he wanted a trial, but asked for a postponement because he would not be prepared by the scheduled jury date.
In addition, Halligan again asked Judge Worton for a different public defender. The judge granted the request this time, and Aaron Edwards was selected to represent the defendant. Court dates had to be pushed back again to give the new public defender time to prepare a defense.
On April 23, Halligan informed the court he would use a defense of mental disease or defect. Two court-appointed psychiatrists were hired to examine the defendant, but the final psychiatric report was not submitted to the court until Aug. 9. These reports are sealed from the public and media.
A pre-trial conference or change of plea hearing was scheduled for Monday. But another series of continuances was submitted and approved just before the hearing was to take place.
The next major court dates for Halligan will be a change of plea hearing on Jan. 24 at 9:45 a.m., a pre-trial conference on Jan. 31 at 11 a.m., and a tentative trial date of Feb. 8 at 8:30 a.m.
