Long Valley Attempted Murder Case Jury Trial Planned For March

LONG VALLEY, NJ — The jury trial for Michael Barisone, the former Olympic equestrian accused of shooting a woman who he trained while she lived on his property, has been scheduled for March 28.

Superior Court Judge Stephen Taylor said on Wednesday that jury selection should begin on Monday, March 21, with a trial date likely the following week.

Subscribe to Patch for local news updates to your inbox. (It's free) https://patch.com/subscribe

At Wednesday’s hearing, Washington Township Police Detective Derek Heymer testified, as the first officer to arrive on the scene after Lauren Kanarak was shot.

Morris County Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Schellhorn asked Heymer while he as on the stand, what happened that day, Aug. 7, 2019. Heymer explained that he was on a traffic detail for tree trimming in town, when at about 2:15 p.m., he heard a call about a person actively shooting at Barisone’s residence on West Mill Road. He said he headed there in an unmarked and official police car.

When he arrived, he said he heard “cries for help,” with Kanarak on the ground and Barisone under Rob Goodwin, Kanarek’s fiancé. Heymer said he asked where the shooter was and he ordered Goodwin to get off of Barisone, after Goodwin identified him and he ordered Goodwin to stay by his side.

Heymer said he couldn’t see Barisone left hand initially, but was able to locate a handgun, then separated the magazine and the gun. He checked Barisone for weapons, which he said he didn’t find any and then started to administer care to Kanarak while he restrained Barisone.

Det. John Wurtemberg and Officer Jason Hensley arrived to the scene, Heymer recalled and asked what he needed, which he said he asked for chest seals from his medical bag. Barisone was handcuffed and Hensley relocated him to a different part of the property.

Barisone, he said, repeated about three times, “I had a good life,” but not in response to questions from medical professionals or police. Barisone was later taken from the scene by ambulance, Heymer said.

During the cross-examination, Barisone’s attorney Edward Bilinkas questioned Heymer about a dog that attacked his boot that reportedly belonged to Goodwin, some of the questioning Taylor suggested was “far afield.”

Bilinkas questioned Heymer about Barisone’s head, asking if he was injured, with Heymer acknowledging a laceration to his forehead and blood on his face. He additionally inquired if Barisone appeared coherent while he was making statements at the scene and the pharmacological effects of some of the medicines he was administered at the hospital, including Fentanyl. Taylor said that medical experts would need to analyze those details.

A separate civil suit filed against 11 Washington Township Police officers in July - including Heymer and Hensley - on Barisone’s behalf by attorney Christopher L. Deininger alleging police “failed to protect Barisone and others,” was dismissed without prejudice on Nov. 17 by Superior Court Judge Louis S. Scuesi, who also denied a second amended complaint from Deininger.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.