Friday, January 2, 2009

Appeal News

Hello All,

There haven't been many postings here because there hasn't been any news to really report. However, we do have some exciting news that happened shortly before Christmas.

The appeal has officially been filed.

Now the prosecution has a minimum of 30 days to reply. (They may ask for an extension.) After that, the defense has 30 days to reply. After that, it goes before the judge. Then he can take some time to decide. I believe it was 3 months to a year??? However, it could be quicker.

Please keep Mechele and her family in your prayers as this crucial part of the process progresses.

12 comments:

BourgeoisViews said...

I know that lawyers use lots of words. More than I may be able to understand. But when the prosecution rebuts and the defense replies, I hope there will be a translation of what it all means.

NOLA said...

Glad to hear the appeal has been officially filed. The waiting and the uncertainity of the outcome must be excruciating for Mechele and her loved ones. I can't imagine daily living in this horrible nightmare. I was wondering if Mechele or her family is concerned for her safety after John Carlin's death in prison. I've read that his first attack came after the reprodcast of 48 mystery. Is the female prison as dangerous? Anyway, I wish Mechele and her family the best with the appeal process.

Mechele's Friends said...

Thanks everyone. We are hopeful that Mechele is well protected. I don't get the sense her facility is as dangerous as Carlin's. Still, prayers and good thoughts are always appreciated!

sandy mcwilliams said...

Mechele's facility is relatively safe. Certain precautions were taken after John's murder. Thanks to some prompting from the ACLU she has finally received her medications and things have settled down. Yes, this has been an unbelievable nightmare for out family. But, we have been so blessed with the love and support of our family and wonderful friends. Even strangers have stepped up and donated milage, or money to her legal fund. Many have sent her books through Amazon and some have just emailed their kind words and support. This is what makes it bearable to get through it. We just wake up every day and know that justice will prevail and that Mechele will come home to us. Thank you all for your love and support.
Mechele's mom

BourgeoisViews said...

I'm not sure if my question is on subject, but since Kent Leppink's letter to his parents is part of the appeal, maybe it is. Do we have to accept his lies to respect his family's loss? No matter what Kent did, I don't think anyone wanted him dead, but everytime anyone tries to bring into perspective his unsubstantiated claim that Mechele, John, or Scott were planning to kill him, the charge of disrespecting the dead comes up.

Mechele's Friends said...

That's an excellent question. Certainly, we want to be respectful of Kent's family and their loss.

I think the best way out of the conundrum is the fact that it seems that it was indeed unconstitutional to admit the letter, since it is impossible to cross-examine the writer of the letter.

Precedent has also been shown with the Giles case, which we mentioned on this blog in August: http://freemechele.blogspot.com/2008/08/giles-case-good-for-mecheles-case.html.

BourgeoisViews said...

There's something I've wondered about the life insurance policy that Kent Leppink changed. Why didn't he send the revised policy papers to his parents? He was expecting to die in a couple of days. Did he want the police to find the revised policy more than he wanted his parents to collect? A hostile opinion has it that he wanted Mechele to know he had changed the policy to force her come back to him. That's obsessed logic, but wouldn't Kent have shown the policy to John Carlin 3rd, also? John Carlin 3rd was supposedly the only person in Anchorage who knew where Mechele was. So how could the life insurance be a motive for John Carlin 3rd to kill Kent? And if the policy was on Kent's body when discovered, wasn't it just staging for the police to look for Mechele?

BourgeoisViews said...

Something that I wonder about the life insurance policy is: Why didn't Kent Leppink send the revised insurance papers to his parents? He made a big deal of telling them he had changed the beneficiaries and he's predicting that he would be dead soon, and yet the papers are found on his body. Was he more interested in the police finding the life insurance papers than in his parents collecting the proceeds?

Hekela said...

I send my hopes that the appeal is successful and that she is home with her family soon.

diana said...

Has anyone thought of contacting the University of Chicago legal department for free legal help they have been quit successful in getting many life sentences reversed and those convicted exonerated.

Mechele's Friends said...

Thanks for the idea, Diana. Most organizations we have looked at won't really touch a case until it's done with the appeal process. So, that seems to be step one and we are all hoping it's the only step. But, if necessary, we will definitely look into other avenues.

beemodern said...

Sandy said that Kent Leppink called and cancelled the policy, and that Mechele called to verify it was cancelled and to request a refund. The media reported during the trial that the insurance agent testified that Mechele contacted their office and requested the policy be cancelled. I do no not know exactly which scenario is in the trial transcripts. Can anyone tell me?

Regardless of the actual details, though, If Kent Leppink really cancelled the policy, or if he cancelled it without immediately calling back and withdrawing the cancellation, why did he change the beneficiary and have it on his person when he was killed? Who bothers to do that for a cancelled policy?