Feb 12, 2008 12:25 pm US/Eastern
NH Horse Farm Murder Suspect To Plead Insanity
BRENTWOOD, NH (AP) ―
Accused murderer Sheila LaBarre is expected to plead insanity today in the death of a man whose burned remains were found on her horse farm in Epping, New Hampshire two years ago.
She is accused of first-degree murder in the death of 24-year-old Kenneth Countie in March 2006. Her lawyer, Jeffrey Denner, confirms LaBarre will change her not guilty plea today to not guilty by reason of insanity. That means she will admit to the killing, but argue she was insane at the time.
Prosecutors plan to fight the plea, saying they want the case to go to trial on the original charge.
A first-degree murder conviction carries a sentence of life without parole in prison. If a judge agrees with the insanity plea, LaBarre would be committed instead to a mental ward, where her status would be reviewed every five years for possible release.
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