PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan judge has granted the request for separate trials for the parents of a school shooter accused of the deaths of four students. The parents had initially presented a united defense but asked for separate trials after new evidence was presented by prosecutors.

James Crumbley and Jennifer Crumbley, parents of the shooter, Ethan Crumbley, had been preparing for a joint trial but their lawyers requested separate trials due to a conflict that arose from the new evidence. The judge granted their request, although it wasn’t immediately clear who would go first.

Ethan Crumbley, 17, pleaded guilty to killing four fellow students and wounding six more students and a staff member at Oxford High School in November 2021. He faces a possible life sentence on Dec. 8.

The parents are charged with involuntary manslaughter for making a gun accessible to their son at home and ignoring his mental health needs, contributing to the tragedy, according to prosecutors. The decision for separate trials was made under the acknowledgment of the constitutional rights of the parents, although it may be tough for the victims’ families and the shooting survivors, as noted by prosecutors.

The separate trials for the parents emphasize the complexities and legal intricacies of the case, further establishing the significance of the decisions made within the judicial system. As the trials proceed, the focus remains on justice for the victims and the full accountability of those involved in the tragic event at Oxford High School. Ethan Crumbley’s sentencing is expected to bring closure and begin the healing process for the community affected by the devastating shooting.