Former stripper to be sentenced in old murder Friday
Published Thursday, March 27, 2008
ANCHORAGE -- Mechele Linehan, the former exotic dancer convicted of murdering a former boyfriend, is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday.
Linehan, 35, could be sentenced to up to 99 years in prison for the murder of Kent Leppink in 1996. Prosecutor Pat Gullufsen is asking Superior Court Judge Philip Volland to hand down the maximum sentence, calling Leppink's death a financially motivated premeditated, deliberate act.
The prosecution's theory is that Linehan was a seductive stripper at the Great Alaskan Bush Company in the mid-1990s and plotted with one lover to kill another for money.
Linehan's lawyers say even the mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years is unjust. They are hoping a three-judge panel will give her five years. However, the law governing the panel appears to exclude murder cases.
"We know from empirical data that people are, and have been, wrongly convicted," says the court paperwork filed by Linehan's lawyer, Kevin Fitzgerald. "While at this point the court is obligated to accept the jury's verdict, it does not mean that the court does not, or should not have reservations or doubts."
Linehan maintains her innocence. Her co-conspirator, John Carlin III, was convicted by a separate jury. Volland sentenced him to 99 years.
According to Alaska State Troopers, Carlin shot Leppink to benefit himself and Linehan, specifically to collect on a $1 million life insurance policy they erroneously thought named her as beneficiary.
Linehan was 23 at the time of Leppink's death. Her husband, Colin Linehan, whom she married after she left Alaska, says the prosecution's story is a collection of lies.
"The narrative set forth by the prosecution was so compelling and filled with salacious material, that it developed an unstoppable momentum and became an alternate reality," he wrote in a letter to the judge.
Comments
Yeah, I get the first comment. Strippers can earn their living however they want. Murder is bad, though.
... and not to make light of the suffering of Mr. Leppink's family. I am sorry for their loss.
If I were Colin I would be sleeping with one eye open.
No matter how long she gets someone is still dead!
At least in prison she will have plenty of bars to practice her pole dancing skills!!
That was bad "OH_Puck"!
Very. :P
She didn't actually kill anybody. In fact, she had rehabilitated herself and was a productive member of society. This is crazy.
Rehabilitated people take responsibity for their actions.
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