Lawyer accused of using forged power of attorney to help pull off double murder wins mistrial
A Missouri lawyer accused of killing her father and his girlfriend has won a mistrial before the jury was even seated.
As jury selection was concluding Tuesday in the case against Susan Elizabeth Van Note, 48, the judge granted a defense request to end the trial because of improper discussions by members of the jury panel, according to the Kansas City Star and the Lebanon Daily Record.
26th Circuit Presiding Judge Kenneth Hayden is overseeing the Lebanon, Missouri, trial.
The case is particularly unusual because Van Note, a lawyer specializing in end-of-life matters, is accused of wielding a forged power of attorney for health care as a lethal weapon.
With the help of the document, she ended medical care for her wealthy father, William Van Note, 67, after he was shot and hospitalized. Her father’s girlfriend, Sharon Dickson, 59, died at the vacation home where both were gunned down.
Earlier Kansas City Star and Lake Expo articles provide additional details.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Murder trial delayed for lawyer accused of using forged power of attorney as lethal weapon”
