Judge denies request for film showing at Linehan trial

By MEGAN HOLLAND | Anchorage Daily News • Published October 05, 2007

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ANCHORAGE, ALASKA - Jurors in the murder trial of Mechele Linehan will not view "The Last Seduction," a 1994 movie about a woman who kills her husband.

Read more about Mechele Linehan's trial:

• Linehan catches network attention (Oct. 22, 2007)

• Convicted killer describes events outlined at trial (Oct. 22, 2007)

• Day of judgment looms for Linehan (Oct. 18, 2007)

• Defense rests case; Linehan won't testify (Oct. 15, 2007)

• Husband defends Linehan as hard-working, generous innocent (Oct. 12, 2007)

• Attorneys in murder case dissect Linehan e-mails (Oct. 11, 2007)

• Leppink sent letter to parents predicting his own murder (Oct. 9, 2007)

• Judge denies request for film showing at Linehan trial (Oct. 5, 2007)

• Linehan acquaintance told different story in '06 (Oct. 4, 2007)

• Killer's son offers details at Linehan trial (Oct. 2, 2007)

• Prosecutors contend Linehan based crime on film (Sept. 28, 2007)

• Linehan's life, friends become focus of former fiance's testimony (Sept. 27, 2007)

• Witness says Linehan tried to get refund on insurance (Sept. 25, 2007)

• Killer acted solo, Linehan defense says (Sept. 21, 2007)

• Linehan jury selection a lesson in Alaska law (Sept. 19, 2007)

• Jury selection under way as Linehan friends defend character (Sept. 18, 2007)

• Alaska time defined by competing love interests (Sept. 16, 2007)

• Acquaintances stunned by court case (Sept. 16, 2007)

• Linehan's 'exotic' past to be part of testimony (Sept. 13, 2007)

• No delay for murder trial of Olympia woman (Sept. 7, 2007)

• Problems could delay murder trial (Sept. 6, 2007)

• Jury convicts man tied to Olympia woman (April 4, 2007)

• Linehan accused of seeking to wipe laptop after death of fiance (March 25, 2007)

• Ex-boyfriend testifies that Linehan 'buffaloed' several men (March 22, 2007)

• Former fiance testifies in Linehan case (March 21, 2007)

• Alaskan slaying suspect at home (Oct. 25, 2006)

• Judge reduces bail for Linehan (Oct. 21. 2006)

• Linehan in jail after bail review (Oct. 17, 2006)

• Olympia woman accused of Alaska murder pleads not guilty (Oct. 14, 2006)

• Olympia woman extradited to Alaska (Oct. 13, 2006)

• Former exotic dancer held in 1996 slaying (Oct. 5, 2006)

• More from the Anchorage Daily News

Judge Philip Volland said no Thursday to the prosecution's request. He said he watched the movie and didn't see enough similarities between its plot and the murder of Kent Leppink to justify entering it into evidence.

Linehan, who lives in Olympia, is two weeks into a trial in which she is charged with conspiring to kill Leppink for money. He was her fiance at the time.

Prosecutors argued that she was inspired by the film and plotted to kill Leppink after viewing it. Defense lawyers disagree.

"The state wants this movie because it fills enormous gaps in their case with regard to plan or motive," defense attorney Kevin Fitzgerald told Volland during a long legal wrangle Thursday.

Prosecutors say Linehan used her sexuality to manipulate men, just like the main character in "The Last Seduction." Volland said Linehan never even had sex with Leppink.

Volland also called the movie raunchy and said he hesitated to subject jurors to the embarrassment of viewing it. Because the movie is so disturbing, it probably would make an impression on them that would unfairly discriminate against Linehan, he said.

Linehan is charged with first-degree murder. Prosecutors say she and another boyfriend, John Carlin III, plotted in May 1996 to murder Leppink, who had a $1 million life-insurance policy. They say Linehan thought she would get the money and that she made Carlin shoot Leppink for her. Carlin was convicted in April in a separate trial.

Linehan's lawyers say she had nothing to do with the murder and that Carlin acted alone.