Michael Barisone, a U.S. dressage team reserve for the 2008 Olympic Games and renowned dressage trainer, has been found not guilty on all charges against him, including two for attempted murder, in a court of law on Thursday 14 April 2022.
A 12-member jury in Morris County deliberated for roughly 18 hours to not convict Barisone, 58, of shooting trainee Lauren Kanarek twice in the chest. He did not shoot at her fiancé, Robert Goodwin, the jury found.
Barisone was arrested after firing two shots in the chest of client Lauren Kanarek at his yard Hawthorne Farm in Morris County, NJ, on Wednesday 7 August 2019. Kanarek was hospitalized at Morristown Medical Center in critical condition and operated on. She recovered from her injuries and testified in this case.
Barisone's trial began on 28 March 2022 with Christopher Schellhorn, a supervising assistant prosecutor, calling 15 witnesses to the stand including several police officers, Morris County Sheriff's Office detectives, Haskins Gray as well as Kanarek and Goodwin. The defense attorneys called 23 witnesses including Barisone's employees, town officials, medical technicians and several former Olympians. Barisone did not take the stand.
After deliberation, the jury found Barisone not guilty by reason of insanity on the attempted murder of Kanarek and not guilty for the attempted murder of Goodwin. He was acquitted on the weapons charges.
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Former U.S Olympic Team Reserve Michael Barisone Charged with Attempted Murder