NJ Olympian Michael Barisone not guilty of shooting trainee due to insanityBy Patrick Reilly
April 14, 2022
A New Jersey Olympian charged with shooting a former equestrian trainee in the chest has been found not guilty by reason of insanity, a jury ruled on Thursday.
Michael Barisone, a former Olympic equestrian and coach, was facing an attempted murder charge over the shooting of award-winning equestrian Lauren Kanarek, 38, at his sprawling Morris County farm in Aug. 2019.
Barisone, a member of the 2008 Beijing Summer Games squad, allegedly blasted Kanarek twice in the chest at point blank range at the ritzy, 53-acre dressage facility.
The 67-year-old was also found not guilty on a second attempted murder charge for allegedly firing at Kanarek’s fiancé, Robert Goodwin. The bullet missed Goodwin.
Barisone broke into tears when the verdict was delivered after over 17 hours of jury deliberation, NJ.com reported. He had faced up to 60 years in prison if convicted on all charges against him.
Ed Bilinkas, Barisone’s lawyer, had argued that Kanarek had waged a psychological war on his client that caused him to eventually snap and shoot Kanarek, NJ.com reported.
Before the shooting, police had responded to the property multiple times. Barisone had called 911 on the couple claiming that Kanarek and Goodwin were living at his dressage facility without a lease and without paying rent. Tensions reportedly peaked after Kanarek accused Barisone of child abuse.
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Source:
https://nypost.com/2022/04/14/ex-olympian-michael-barisone-found-not-guilty-in-shooting/
