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''' Kent Leppink''' died by gunshot in 1996. His former fiancée, Mechele Linehan, was convicted of murdering him, but the judgment was reversed on appeal.<ref name=adnbail>{{cite news |url=http://www.adn.com/2010/05/12/1274765/linehan-out-on-bail.html |title=Stranger puts up bail, Linehan leaves prison |publisher=Anchorage Daily News |accessdate=January 22, 2011| date=May 13, 2010 | first=Megan | last=Holland}}</ref> After originally being sentenced to 99 years in prison,<ref name=people>{{cite news |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20160734,00.html |publisher=People|date=November 5, 2007 |accessdate=January 22, 2011 |title=Alaskan Temptress|author=Alex Tresniowski}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|publisher=CNN|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/04/03/linehan.trial.ap/index.html|title=Ex-stripper sentenced in plot to kill former fiance|date=April 3, 2008|accessdate=2008-02-03 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080407051605/http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/04/03/linehan.trial.ap/index.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2008-04-07}}</ref> Linehan is currently free on bail awaiting a new trial.<ref name=adnbail>{{cite news |url=http://www.adn.com/2010/05/12/1274765/linehan-out-on-bail.html |title=Stranger puts up bail, Linehan leaves prison |publisher=Anchorage Daily News |accessdate=January 22, 2011| date=May 13, 2010 | first=Megan | last=Holland}}</ref> |
''' Kent Leppink''' died by gunshot in 1996. His former fiancée, Mechele Linehan, was convicted of murdering him, but the judgment was reversed on appeal.<ref name=adnbail>{{cite news |url=http://www.adn.com/2010/05/12/1274765/linehan-out-on-bail.html |title=Stranger puts up bail, Linehan leaves prison |publisher=Anchorage Daily News |accessdate=January 22, 2011| date=May 13, 2010 | first=Megan | last=Holland}}</ref> After originally being sentenced to 99 years in prison,<ref name=people>{{cite news |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20160734,00.html |publisher=People|date=November 5, 2007 |accessdate=January 22, 2011 |title=Alaskan Temptress|author=Alex Tresniowski}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|publisher=CNN|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/04/03/linehan.trial.ap/index.html|title=Ex-stripper sentenced in plot to kill former fiance|date=April 3, 2008|accessdate=2008-02-03 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080407051605/http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/04/03/linehan.trial.ap/index.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2008-04-07}}</ref> Linehan is currently free on bail awaiting a new trial.<ref name=adnbail>{{cite news |url=http://www.adn.com/2010/05/12/1274765/linehan-out-on-bail.html |title=Stranger puts up bail, Linehan leaves prison |publisher=Anchorage Daily News |accessdate=January 22, 2011| date=May 13, 2010 | first=Megan | last=Holland}}</ref> |
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==Crime== |
==Crime== |
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Kent Leppink was a [[Michigan]] native who moved to [[Alaska]] to work as a [[fisherman]] after his banishment from his family for embezzling $100,000.00 from his parents' business<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adn.com/2007/10/08/228470/leppink-letter-raises-new-questions.html/title=Leppink letter raises new questions-Victim stayed in house with those he feared after writing to his parents that he might be killed/author=Megan Holland/date=10/08/2007))</ref>. He met Linehan at a [[striptease]] club called The Great Alaskan Bush Company. On May 2, 1996, at the age of 36, he was found dead in [[Hope, Alaska|Hope]], [[Alaska]] with three [[.44 caliber]] bullet gun shot wounds. His alleged fiancée, 23-years-old at the time of his death, was arrested over 10 years later in October 2006 and convicted of his murder, but the verdict was overturned by a unanimous decision less than two months after her appeal hearing<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cmm.lefora.com/2010/09/21/kent-leppink-mechele-kaye-hughes-conviction-thrown/|title=Kent Leppink - Mechelle Kaye (LInehan) Hughes - Conviction Thrown out - Gets New Trial/author=Patsy Stone/date-09/21/2010</ref>. The decision was notable in its unanimity and swift conclusion as the appeals court had up to a year to reach its decision. Appeals Chief Judge Robert Coats wrote in the court's decision,"The States case was lengthy and detailed, but it was primarily circumstantial. In an effort to convince the jury to view the circumstantial evidence in a light that would support Linehans conviction for murder."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://touchngo.com/ap/html/ap-2253.htm/title=Linehan v. State (02/05/2010) ap-2253/posted by=Law Offices of James B. Gottstein</ref>. "The State's case against Linehan was circumstantial, and the evidence was subject to different interpretations and was hardly overwhelming." "We accordingly conclude that Linehan's conviction must be reversed."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adn.com/2010/02/05/1126105/appeals-court-overturns-linehan.html/title-Court Overturns Linehan Conviction-Leppink Letter:Testimony of murder victim, move ruled unfair/author=Megan Hollan/date=date=02/06/2010</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://touchngo.com/ap/html/ap-2253.htm/title=Linehan v. State (02/05/2010) ap-2253/posted by=Law Offices of James B. Gottstein</ref> |
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===Kent Leppink's murder=== |
===Kent Leppink's murder=== |
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Kent Leppink was a [[Michigan]] native who moved to [[Alaska]] to work as a [[fisherman]]. He met Linehan at a [[striptease]] club called The Great Alaskan Bush Company. On May 2, 1996, he was found dead in [[Hope, Alaska|Hope]], [[Alaska]] with three [[.44 caliber]] bullet gun shot wounds.<ref name=people /> His fiancée was arrested over 10 years later in October 2006 and convicted of his murder, but the verdict was overturned.<ref name=people /> |
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At trial, Linehan was accused of conspiring with her friend and sometimes housemate of both Linehan and Kent Leppink, John Carlin, to kill Leppink.<ref name=adnbail /> The government said that Linehan's motive was that she was the beneficiary of Leppink's $1 million life insurance policy.<ref name=adnoverturn>{{cite news |url=http://www.adn.com/2010/02/05/1126105/appeals-court-overturns-linehan.html |title=Court overturns Linehan conviction |author=Holland, Megan |work=Anchorage Daily News |date=February 6, 2010 |accessdate=February 4, 2011}}</ref> Leppink changed the beneficiary on the policy a few days before his death. Mysteriously, he managed to change the beneficiary despite the claim that the policy belonged to Linehan, and the insurance agent testifying that both Linehan and Leppink had told him to cancel it and both had asked for a refund. The agent testified that Linehan had called the insurance office just days before Leppink's death to remind him the policy was canceled and that she wanted a refund<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cmm.lefora.com/2010/09/21/kent-leppink-mechele-kaye-hughes-conviction-thrown/|title=Kent Leppink - Mechelle Kaye (LInehan) Hughes - Conviction Thrown out - Gets New Trial/author=Patsy Stone/date-09/21/2010))</ref>. The prosecution claimed Linehan conspired to have Leppink killed for the one million dollars, but did not provide evidence proving she knew the policy was still in effect. |
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===Trial and appeal=== |
===Trial and appeal=== |
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At trial, Linehan was accused of conspiring with her |
At trial, Linehan was accused of conspiring with her friend and sometimes housemate of both Linehan and Kent Leppink, John Carlin, to kill Leppink.<ref name=adnbail /> The government said that Linehan's motive was that she was the beneficiary of Leppink's $1 million life insurance policy.<ref name=adnoverturn>{{cite news |url=http://www.adn.com/2010/02/05/1126105/appeals-court-overturns-linehan.html |title=Court overturns Linehan conviction |author=Holland, Megan |work=Anchorage Daily News |date=February 6, 2010 |accessdate=February 4, 2011}}</ref> Leppink changed the beneficiary on the policy a few days before his death. Mysteriously, he managed to change the beneficiary despite the claim that the policy belonged to Linehan, and the insurance agent testifying that both Linehan and Leppink had told him to cancel it and both had asked for a refund. The agent testified that Linehan had called the insurance office just days before Leppink's death to remind him the policy was canceled and that she wanted a refund<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cmm.lefora.com/2010/09/21/kent-leppink-mechele-kaye-hughes-conviction-thrown/|title=Kent Leppink - Mechelle Kaye (LInehan) Hughes - Conviction Thrown out - Gets New Trial/author=Patsy Stone/date-09/21/2010))</ref>. The prosecution claimed Linehan conspired to have Leppink killed for the one million dollars, but did not provide evidence proving she knew the policy was still in effect. |
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The prosecution alleged that Linehan followed the plot of ''[[The Last Seduction]]'' because she was "obsessed with the film." A former co-worker testified that Linehan told her that [[Linda Fiorentino]]'s "character was her heroine and that she wanted to be just like her." The source for this testimony was the coworker's diary. |
The prosecution alleged, also, that Linehan followed the plot of ''[[The Last Seduction]]'' because she was "obsessed with the film." <ref>((citation needed for quote))</red> A former exotic dancer and co-worker, Lora Aspiotis, testified that Linehan told her that [[Linda Fiorentino]]'s "character was her heroine and that she wanted to be just like her." The source for this testimony was the coworker's diary. After reviewing the diary, there was an entry by the coworker stating that she watched the movie with her boyfriend and not Linehan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21230656/?GT1=10450|title=Ex-stripper accused in plot similar to the 1994 movie|publisher=AP via MSNBC|date=October 11, 2007|accessdate=2007-10-31}}</ref> No evidence was introduced proving Linehan's interest in the movie or that she and the witness had discussed it, and the diary contradicted the witness's testimony. The court ordered no more mention of the movie after the presiding judge, Judge Volland, watched it. Judge Volland said the movie was too dissimilar from the case to be relevant<ref>((url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003940190_webmurderplot10.html/publisher=The Seattle Times/author=Dan Joling/date=10/10/2007))</ref>. However, the jury had already heard testimony and discussion of the movie before he reached that conclusion. |
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Linehan's friends and family testified about her history of volunteerism and generosity toward others. A forensic psychiatrist, who conducted extensive testing on Linehan, testified that she did not have the personality of someone who would commit such a crime.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=Anchorage Daily News|url=http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/crime/stripper/story/364106.html|title=Linehan sentenced to 99 years|date=April 3, 2008|author=Megan Holland|accessdate=2008-04-03}}</ref> |
Linehan's friends and family testified about her history of volunteerism and generosity toward others. The defense reminded the court and jury that Linehan had no criminal record before or after Leppink's death, but rather, had gone on to marry, support her husband through medical school, have a child, earn a Graduate degree, and was a successful business woman and contributing member of her community. A forensic psychiatrist, who conducted extensive testing on Linehan, testified that she did not have the personality of someone who would commit such a crime.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=Anchorage Daily News|url=http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/crime/stripper/story/364106.html|title=Linehan sentenced to 99 years|date=April 3, 2008|author=Megan Holland|accessdate=2008-04-03}}</ref> |
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Lane Leppink, Kent Leppink's younger brother, testified for the defense that he'd believed Linehan would be incorrectly blamed for his brother's death as soon as he learned of it. Further, cold-case investigator James Stogsdill admitted that he'd lied to John Carlin about Linehan while interviewing Carlin. Investigator Stogsdill testified that he'd called Linehan a "lying bitch" and lied to Carlin about Linehan telling investigators false information about the murder weapon and her bilking the Leppink family out of money<ref>{{cite news|publisher=Anchorage Daily News|url=http://www.adn.com/2007/10/12/117357/linehans-husband-testifies.html/title=Linehan's husband testifies-TRIAL: Doctor tells victim's family his wife is innocent/date=10/12/2007/author=Megan Holland}}</ref>. |
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⚫ | Nevertheless, on October 22, 2007, Linehan was convicted of murder. On April 2, 2008, using the adjectives "deceit," "deception," "manipulation," and "venal," Judge Volland sentenced her to 99 years; the same sentence the convicted shooter, John Carlin, received from the same Judge Volland. Linehan was transferred to [[List of Alaska state prisons|Hiland Mountain Correctional Center]] in [[Eagle River, Alaska|Eagle River]], [[Alaska]].<ref name=Holland>{{cite news|title=Linehan adds heavy hitters to legal team|url=http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/crime/stripper/story/391155.html|publisher=Anchorage Daily News|author=Megan Holland|date=April 30, 2008|accessdate=2008-05-01}}</ref> Linehan served two-and-a-half years as she awaited her appeal, and spent another three or more months in prison after her conviction was overturned, awaiting a bail hearing. |
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⚫ | On March 8, 2008, Linehan told ''[[48 Hours (TV series)|48 Hour Mystery]]'': "I just feel like there is nothing I can do to make people believe me or make people like me.... Anybody else that knew me or worked with me didn't feel that way. You tell me how a 22-, 21-year-old girl can make grown men do these things." |
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Included in the defense's 38 points of appeal was that the court denied full cross of Lane Leppink, preventing him from testifying regarding Kent Leppink's involvement in an arson, and also his belief that their father was involved in his brother's homicide. <ref>{{cite document=STATEMENT OF POINTS ON APPEAL/title=Mechele K. Linehan Vs. State of Alaska/publisher=IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF ALASKA/url=www.keepandshare.com/doc/647249/points-of-appeal-24k?dn=y))</ref> |
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⚫ | On March 8, 2008, Linehan told ''[[48 Hours (TV series)|48 Hour Mystery]]'': "I just feel like there is nothing I can do to make people believe me or make people like me.... Anybody else that knew me or worked with me didn't feel that way. You tell me how a 22-, 21-year-old girl can make grown men do these things." |
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On March 8, 2008, Linehan told ''[[48 Hours (TV series)|48 Hour Mystery]]'': "I just feel like there is nothing I can do to make people believe me or make people like me.... Anybody else that knew me or worked with me didn't feel that way. You tell me how a 22-, 21-year-old girl can make grown men do these things." |
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John Carlin III was convicted of murder in April 2007.<ref name=courtopinion /> He was found bludgeoned to death in his cell at the [[Spring Creek Correctional Center]] in [[Seward, Alaska]] on October 27, 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008321465_webseductioncase28m.html|title=Triggerman in notorious AK murder found dead|publisher=''[[Associated Press]]''|accessdate=2008-10-28|date=2008-10-28 | first=Dan | last=Joling}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/crime/stripper/story/573978.html |title=Prison inmate Carlin beaten to death, troopers say |publisher=Anchorage Daily News |accessdate=January 22, 2011| date=October 31, 2008 | first=Megan | last=Holland}}</ref> His conviction was set aside on December 12, 2008, because he died before he could complete his appeal.<ref name=courtopinion /> |
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Carlin was also convicted of murder in April 2007.<ref name=courtopinion /> He was found bludgeoned to death in his cell at the [[Spring Creek Correctional Center]] in [[Seward, Alaska]] on October 27, 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008321465_webseductioncase28m.html|title=Triggerman in notorious AK murder found dead|publisher=''[[Associated Press]]''|accessdate=2008-10-28|date=2008-10-28 | first=Dan | last=Joling}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/crime/stripper/story/573978.html |title=Prison inmate Carlin beaten to death, troopers say |publisher=Anchorage Daily News |accessdate=January 22, 2011| date=October 31, 2008 | first=Megan | last=Holland}}</ref> His conviction was set aside on December 12, 2008, because he died before he could complete his appeal.<ref name=courtopinion /> |
Carlin was also convicted of murder in April 2007.<ref name=courtopinion /> He was found bludgeoned to death in his cell at the [[Spring Creek Correctional Center]] in [[Seward, Alaska]] on October 27, 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008321465_webseductioncase28m.html|title=Triggerman in notorious AK murder found dead|publisher=''[[Associated Press]]''|accessdate=2008-10-28|date=2008-10-28 | first=Dan | last=Joling}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/crime/stripper/story/573978.html |title=Prison inmate Carlin beaten to death, troopers say |publisher=Anchorage Daily News |accessdate=January 22, 2011| date=October 31, 2008 | first=Megan | last=Holland}}</ref> His conviction was set aside on December 12, 2008, because he died before he could complete his appeal.<ref name=courtopinion /> |
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On February 5, 2010, the Alaska Court of Appeals overturned Linehan's conviction.<ref name=adnoverturn /><ref name=courtopinion>[http://media.adn.com/smedia/2010/02/05/09/Linehan.50006.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf Alaska Court of Appeals Opinion]</ref> The court concluded it was improper for the trial court to allow two pieces of evidence into the trial: testimony about the movie, ''The Last Seduction'', and a letter allegedly written by Leppink in the days before he died. The letter, which Leppink allegedly wrote to his parents, said that if something happened to him, "Mechele, John or Scott were probably the people or persons that probably killed me." He asked his parents to make sure she went to prison.<ref>((url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-6178212-504083.html))</ref>The letter did not provide Leppink's reason for believing he was in danger, nor did he ask his parents to ensure Carlin and Hilke went to prison. He did write that if Linehan had been willing to marry him, he would not be doing what he was doing to her. |
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⚫ | Until May 11, 2010, Linehan was incarcerated at Hiland Mountain Correctional Center in Eagle River. On April 28, 2010 Judge Volland set as a condition of her bail a $250,000 appearance bond. On May 11, 2010, an east coast corporate executive, Brian C. Watt, from Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, donated the money necessary to release Linehan from prison, paying a $25,000 bail bondsman fee.<ref name=adnbail /> |
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On February 5, 2010, the Alaska Court of Appeals overturned Linehan's conviction.<ref name=adnoverturn /><ref name=courtopinion>[http://media.adn.com/smedia/2010/02/05/09/Linehan.50006.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf Alaska Court of Appeals Opinion]</ref> The court concluded it was improper for the trial court to allow two pieces of evidence into the trial: testimony about the movie, ''The Last Seduction'', and a letter written by Leppink in the days before he died. The letter, which Leppink wrote to his parents, said Linehan, Carlin, or Scott Hilke were "probably" responsible if he died under "suspicious circumstances". |
On February 5, 2010, the Alaska Court of Appeals overturned Linehan's conviction.<ref name=adnoverturn /><ref name=courtopinion>[http://media.adn.com/smedia/2010/02/05/09/Linehan.50006.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf Alaska Court of Appeals Opinion]</ref> The court concluded it was improper for the trial court to allow two pieces of evidence into the trial: testimony about the movie, ''The Last Seduction'', and a letter written by Leppink in the days before he died. The letter, which Leppink wrote to his parents, said Linehan, Carlin, or Scott Hilke were "probably" responsible if he died under "suspicious circumstances". |
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Currently, Linehan is living under bail conditions in Alaska awaiting a second trial, which is thus far scheduled to be presided over by the same Judge Volland. The case remains highly controversial. |
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⚫ | Until May 11, 2010, Linehan was incarcerated at Hiland Mountain Correctional Center in Eagle River. On April 28, 2010 |
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===Media reporting=== |
===Media reporting=== |
Revision as of 01:26, 13 April 2011
Kent Leppink died by gunshot in 1996. His former fiancée, Mechele Linehan, was convicted of murdering him, but the judgment was reversed on appeal.[1] After originally being sentenced to 99 years in prison,[2][3] Linehan is currently free on bail awaiting a new trial.[1]
Crime
Kent Leppink was a Michigan native who moved to Alaska to work as a fisherman after his banishment from his family for embezzling $100,000.00 from his parents' business[4]. He met Linehan at a striptease club called The Great Alaskan Bush Company. On May 2, 1996, at the age of 36, he was found dead in Hope, Alaska with three .44 caliber bullet gun shot wounds. His alleged fiancée, 23-years-old at the time of his death, was arrested over 10 years later in October 2006 and convicted of his murder, but the verdict was overturned by a unanimous decision less than two months after her appeal hearing[5]. The decision was notable in its unanimity and swift conclusion as the appeals court had up to a year to reach its decision. Appeals Chief Judge Robert Coats wrote in the court's decision,"The States case was lengthy and detailed, but it was primarily circumstantial. In an effort to convince the jury to view the circumstantial evidence in a light that would support Linehans conviction for murder."[6]. "The State's case against Linehan was circumstantial, and the evidence was subject to different interpretations and was hardly overwhelming." "We accordingly conclude that Linehan's conviction must be reversed."[7][8]
Kent Leppink's murder
At trial, Linehan was accused of conspiring with her friend and sometimes housemate of both Linehan and Kent Leppink, John Carlin, to kill Leppink.[1] The government said that Linehan's motive was that she was the beneficiary of Leppink's $1 million life insurance policy.[9] Leppink changed the beneficiary on the policy a few days before his death. Mysteriously, he managed to change the beneficiary despite the claim that the policy belonged to Linehan, and the insurance agent testifying that both Linehan and Leppink had told him to cancel it and both had asked for a refund. The agent testified that Linehan had called the insurance office just days before Leppink's death to remind him the policy was canceled and that she wanted a refund[10]. The prosecution claimed Linehan conspired to have Leppink killed for the one million dollars, but did not provide evidence proving she knew the policy was still in effect.
Trial and appeal
At trial, Linehan was accused of conspiring with her friend and sometimes housemate of both Linehan and Kent Leppink, John Carlin, to kill Leppink.[1] The government said that Linehan's motive was that she was the beneficiary of Leppink's $1 million life insurance policy.[9] Leppink changed the beneficiary on the policy a few days before his death. Mysteriously, he managed to change the beneficiary despite the claim that the policy belonged to Linehan, and the insurance agent testifying that both Linehan and Leppink had told him to cancel it and both had asked for a refund. The agent testified that Linehan had called the insurance office just days before Leppink's death to remind him the policy was canceled and that she wanted a refund[11]. The prosecution claimed Linehan conspired to have Leppink killed for the one million dollars, but did not provide evidence proving she knew the policy was still in effect.
The prosecution alleged, also, that Linehan followed the plot of The Last Seduction because she was "obsessed with the film." Cite error: A <ref>
tag is missing the closing </ref>
(see the help page). No evidence was introduced proving Linehan's interest in the movie or that she and the witness had discussed it, and the diary contradicted the witness's testimony. The court ordered no more mention of the movie after the presiding judge, Judge Volland, watched it. Judge Volland said the movie was too dissimilar from the case to be relevant[12]. However, the jury had already heard testimony and discussion of the movie before he reached that conclusion.
Linehan's friends and family testified about her history of volunteerism and generosity toward others. The defense reminded the court and jury that Linehan had no criminal record before or after Leppink's death, but rather, had gone on to marry, support her husband through medical school, have a child, earn a Graduate degree, and was a successful business woman and contributing member of her community. A forensic psychiatrist, who conducted extensive testing on Linehan, testified that she did not have the personality of someone who would commit such a crime.[13]
Lane Leppink, Kent Leppink's younger brother, testified for the defense that he'd believed Linehan would be incorrectly blamed for his brother's death as soon as he learned of it. Further, cold-case investigator James Stogsdill admitted that he'd lied to John Carlin about Linehan while interviewing Carlin. Investigator Stogsdill testified that he'd called Linehan a "lying bitch" and lied to Carlin about Linehan telling investigators false information about the murder weapon and her bilking the Leppink family out of money[14].
Nevertheless, on October 22, 2007, Linehan was convicted of murder. On April 2, 2008, using the adjectives "deceit," "deception," "manipulation," and "venal," Judge Volland sentenced her to 99 years; the same sentence the convicted shooter, John Carlin, received from the same Judge Volland. Linehan was transferred to Hiland Mountain Correctional Center in Eagle River, Alaska.[15] Linehan served two-and-a-half years as she awaited her appeal, and spent another three or more months in prison after her conviction was overturned, awaiting a bail hearing.
Included in the defense's 38 points of appeal was that the court denied full cross of Lane Leppink, preventing him from testifying regarding Kent Leppink's involvement in an arson, and also his belief that their father was involved in his brother's homicide. [16]
On March 8, 2008, Linehan told 48 Hour Mystery: "I just feel like there is nothing I can do to make people believe me or make people like me.... Anybody else that knew me or worked with me didn't feel that way. You tell me how a 22-, 21-year-old girl can make grown men do these things."
On March 8, 2008, Linehan told 48 Hour Mystery: "I just feel like there is nothing I can do to make people believe me or make people like me.... Anybody else that knew me or worked with me didn't feel that way. You tell me how a 22-, 21-year-old girl can make grown men do these things."
- John Carlin III was convicted of murder in April 2007.[17] He was found bludgeoned to death in his cell at the Spring Creek Correctional Center in Seward, Alaska on October 27, 2008.[18][19] His conviction was set aside on December 12, 2008, because he died before he could complete his appeal.[17] + Carlin was also convicted of murder in April 2007.[17] He was found bludgeoned to death in his cell at the Spring Creek Correctional Center in Seward, Alaska on October 27, 2008.[20][21] His conviction was set aside on December 12, 2008, because he died before he could complete his appeal.[17] - - On February 5, 2010, the Alaska Court of Appeals overturned Linehan's conviction.[9][17] The court concluded it was improper for the trial court to allow two pieces of evidence into the trial: testimony about the movie, The Last Seduction, and a letter allegedly written by Leppink in the days before he died. The letter, which Leppink allegedly wrote to his parents, said that if something happened to him, "Mechele, John or Scott were probably the people or persons that probably killed me." He asked his parents to make sure she went to prison.[22]The letter did not provide Leppink's reason for believing he was in danger, nor did he ask his parents to ensure Carlin and Hilke went to prison. He did write that if Linehan had been willing to marry him, he would not be doing what he was doing to her.
Until May 11, 2010, Linehan was incarcerated at Hiland Mountain Correctional Center in Eagle River. On April 28, 2010 Judge Volland set as a condition of her bail a $250,000 appearance bond. On May 11, 2010, an east coast corporate executive, Brian C. Watt, from Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, donated the money necessary to release Linehan from prison, paying a $25,000 bail bondsman fee.[1]
On February 5, 2010, the Alaska Court of Appeals overturned Linehan's conviction.[9][17] The court concluded it was improper for the trial court to allow two pieces of evidence into the trial: testimony about the movie, The Last Seduction, and a letter written by Leppink in the days before he died. The letter, which Leppink wrote to his parents, said Linehan, Carlin, or Scott Hilke were "probably" responsible if he died under "suspicious circumstances".
Currently, Linehan is living under bail conditions in Alaska awaiting a second trial, which is thus far scheduled to be presided over by the same Judge Volland. The case remains highly controversial.
Media reporting
On July 27, 2008, Linehan's case was profiled on Dateline NBC. An update aired on May 22, 2009.[23]
In 2009, Linehan's case was profiled on the Oxygen Network series Snapped.[24]
Linehan's case was also profiled in 2009 as part of the E! network program, "Fatal Beauty: 15 Most Notorious Women." [25]
Publications
- - Deadly Angel:The Bizarre True Story of Alaska's Killer Stripper - written by Fred Rosen - published by HarperCollins cited via Google books ISBN 0061733989 released- June 2009.
References
- ^ a b c d e Holland, Megan (May 13, 2010). "Stranger puts up bail, Linehan leaves prison". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
- ^ Alex Tresniowski (November 5, 2007). "Alaskan Temptress". People. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
- ^ "Ex-stripper sentenced in plot to kill former fiance". CNN. April 3, 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-04-07. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
- ^ {{cite web|url=http://www.adn.com/2007/10/08/228470/leppink-letter-raises-new-questions.html/title=Leppink letter raises new questions-Victim stayed in house with those he feared after writing to his parents that he might be killed/author=Megan Holland/date=10/08/2007))
- ^ {{cite web|url=http://cmm.lefora.com/2010/09/21/kent-leppink-mechele-kaye-hughes-conviction-thrown/%7Ctitle=Kent Leppink - Mechelle Kaye (LInehan) Hughes - Conviction Thrown out - Gets New Trial/author=Patsy Stone/date-09/21/2010
- ^ {{cite web|url=http://touchngo.com/ap/html/ap-2253.htm/title=Linehan v. State (02/05/2010) ap-2253/posted by=Law Offices of James B. Gottstein
- ^ {{cite web|url=http://www.adn.com/2010/02/05/1126105/appeals-court-overturns-linehan.html/title-Court Overturns Linehan Conviction-Leppink Letter:Testimony of murder victim, move ruled unfair/author=Megan Hollan/date=date=02/06/2010
- ^ {{cite web|url=http://touchngo.com/ap/html/ap-2253.htm/title=Linehan v. State (02/05/2010) ap-2253/posted by=Law Offices of James B. Gottstein
- ^ a b c d Holland, Megan (February 6, 2010). "Court overturns Linehan conviction". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
- ^ {{cite web|url=http://cmm.lefora.com/2010/09/21/kent-leppink-mechele-kaye-hughes-conviction-thrown/%7Ctitle=Kent Leppink - Mechelle Kaye (LInehan) Hughes - Conviction Thrown out - Gets New Trial/author=Patsy Stone/date-09/21/2010))
- ^ {{cite web|url=http://cmm.lefora.com/2010/09/21/kent-leppink-mechele-kaye-hughes-conviction-thrown/%7Ctitle=Kent Leppink - Mechelle Kaye (LInehan) Hughes - Conviction Thrown out - Gets New Trial/author=Patsy Stone/date-09/21/2010))
- ^ ((url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003940190_webmurderplot10.html/publisher=The Seattle Times/author=Dan Joling/date=10/10/2007))
- ^ Megan Holland (April 3, 2008). "Linehan sentenced to 99 years". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2008-04-03.
- ^ . Anchorage Daily News husband testifies-TRIAL: Doctor tells victim's family his wife is innocent/date=10/12/2007/author=Megan Holland http://www.adn.com/2007/10/12/117357/linehans-husband-testifies.html/title=Linehan's husband testifies-TRIAL: Doctor tells victim's family his wife is innocent/date=10/12/2007/author=Megan Holland.
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: Check|url=
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(help) - ^ Megan Holland (April 30, 2008). "Linehan adds heavy hitters to legal team". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2008-05-01.
- ^ {{cite document=STATEMENT OF POINTS ON APPEAL/title=Mechele K. Linehan Vs. State of Alaska/publisher=IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF ALASKA/url=www.keepandshare.com/doc/647249/points-of-appeal-24k?dn=y))
- ^ a b c d e f Alaska Court of Appeals Opinion
- ^ Joling, Dan (2008-10-28). "Triggerman in notorious AK murder found dead". Associated Press. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
{{cite news}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help) - ^ Holland, Megan (October 31, 2008). "Prison inmate Carlin beaten to death, troopers say". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
- ^ Joling, Dan (2008-10-28). "Triggerman in notorious AK murder found dead". Associated Press. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
{{cite news}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help) - ^ Holland, Megan (October 31, 2008). "Prison inmate Carlin beaten to death, troopers say". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
- ^ ((url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-6178212-504083.html))
- ^ "The stripper and the steelworker". msnbc. July 27, 2008. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
- ^ http://www.oxygen.com/tvshows/snapped/photos/episode4.aspx Oxygen.com - Episode 4: Mechele Linehan
- ^ http://www.livedash.com/transcript/fatal_beauty__15_most_notorious_women/6834/EP/Tuesday_August_25_2009/80245/ Fatal Beauty: 15 Most Notorious Women
External links
- Love And Death In Alaska. 48 Hours by CBS. Full episode video.
- Michele Linehan appeals murder conviction
- Gunman in Alaska murder plot found dead