Philanthropist Astor to be focus of trial

NEW YORK, March 30 (UPI) -- Prosecutors say the trial of the late philanthropist Brooke Astor's son, Anthony Marshall, will focus on the New York socialite's mental state prior to death.

Prosecutors said they plan on arguing in the State Supreme Court trial in Manhattan that both Marshall and his co-defendant, attorney Francis X. Morrissey Jr., took advantage of Astor's deteriorating mental state as a result of her Alzheimer's disease, The New York Times said Monday.

Marshall and Morrissey allegedly used the famed socialite's decreased mental state to convince her to leave them millions of dollars in her will, prosecutors said in an indictment.

Among the expected prosecution evidence in the case, which began Monday with jury selection, are witnesses who were close to Astor and a letter in which Marshall allegedly detailed his mother's deteriorating condition.

The two co-defendants stand accused of conspiracy and scheming to defraud. Marshall is also facing a grand larceny charge for allegedly selling one of Astor's paintings and keeping a $2 million commission.

Astor, who was Vincent Astor Foundation chairwoman, died in 2007 of pneumonia at the age of 105.