Judge lets Linehan out with ankle bracelet

ANCHORAGE - An Olympia woman accused of conspiring to kill a man in Anchorage has been given more freedom on bail while she awaits her second murder trial.

The Anchorage Daily News reports a judge decided Wednesday to release Mechele Linehan from house arrest as long as she wears an ankle bracelet to track her movements. She also must be home by 9 p.m.

Linehan wanted more freedom so she could take a job as a receptionist at a hair salon to earn some money.

Linehan’s first conviction in 2007 was thrown out by the Court of Appeals. A new trial date has not been set.

The 37-year-old once worked as a stripper in Anchorage. She is accused of conspiring with a man to kill another man in 1996 for his life insurance.

At Wednesday’s court hearing, Linehan was granted a request to be alone outside the presence of a court-approved custodian.

At the same hearing, prosecutor Pat Gullufsen said he is retiring and the case will be handed over to prosecutor Paul Miovas. Gullufsen has been involved in the case since the 2006 arrests of Linehan and co-defendant John Carlin.