Ex-stripper wins appeal in killing conviction

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A former stripper-turned-doctor’s-wife who was found guilty of participating in a murder conspiracy has been awarded a new trial.

The Alaska Court of Appeals ruled today that the judge in Mechele Linehan’s trial wrongly allowed prosecutors to introduce a letter written by Linehan’s former fiance, Kent Leppink, shortly before he died. The letter asserted Linehan would probably be responsible if Leppink died suspiciously.

The 37-year-old Olympia woman was convicted in 2007 of luring a man who was in love with her to kill Leppink in hopes of receiving $1 million in life insurance money.

Linehan has been serving a 99-year sentence at Hiland Mountain Correctional Center in Eagle River.

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