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Woman, 65, Pleads Not Guilty In Orange County Assisted Suicide

SANTA ANA  (AP) — A 65-year-old woman has pleaded not guilty to helping an elderly man kill himself by mixing a lethal dose of drugs in his yogurt.

Orange County prosecutors say Elizabeth Barrett entered the plea in Superior Court on Friday. She is due back in court on Aug. 10.

Barrett is charged with illegally assisting in the Sept. 30 suicide of Jack Koency, an 86-year-old World War II veteran who lived in a nearby retirement complex.

Prosecutors say the Laguna Woods resident drove Koency to a cremation provider before heading back to his apartment, where she crushed a lethal amount of painkiller pills into yogurt that he ate. Authorities say Koency then went into his bedroom, laid down and died.

A message was left for Barrett's attorney Daryl Anthony.

RELATED LINK: Laguna Woods Woman Arrested On Suspicion Of Assisting Man, 85, In Suicide

RELATED LINK: Attorney - OC Woman Accused In Assisted Suicide Was Unaware Vet Wanted To Die

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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