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William Melchert-Dinkel returned to court in Faribault, Minnesota, on Friday, more than three years after he was convicted of encouraging two people, including an 18-year-old Carleton University student, to kill themselves and gave them information on how to do it.
Prosecutors argued that the former nurse should be convicted of assisting suicide after he sent emails and other online communications related to the deaths of Mark Drybrough and Nadia Kajouji, an 18-year-old student at Carleton who jumped into the frozen Rideau River after several conversations with Melchert-Dinkel.
Earlier this year, the Minnesota Supreme Court reversed those convictions claiming that the state’s law against encouraging or advising suicides was too broad. However, the court upheld part of the law that makes it a crime to assist someone’s suicide.
On Friday, lawyers returned to court to argue whether Melchert-Dinkel’s actions qualified.
Nadia Kajouji was 18 when she ended her life.
Evidence at that trial showed Melchert-Dinkel was obsessed with suicide and sought out people online who appeared depressed. He posed as a suicidal female nurse, faked compassion, and offered detailed instructions how they could kill themselves. Police said he told them he did it for “the thrill of the chase.”
Assistant Rice County Attorney Terence Swihart said the state Supreme Court had defined “assist” as providing a person with what they need to die by suicide.
Defence lawyer Terry Watkins said that while Melchert-Dinkel encouraged the suicides, he didn’t have a knowing role in the commission of the acts and there was no evidence that his advice led to the suicides.
The judge took the case under advisement and was expected to issue a decision within 30 days.
With files from The Associated Press and The Canadian Press
查看原文...
Prosecutors argued that the former nurse should be convicted of assisting suicide after he sent emails and other online communications related to the deaths of Mark Drybrough and Nadia Kajouji, an 18-year-old student at Carleton who jumped into the frozen Rideau River after several conversations with Melchert-Dinkel.
Earlier this year, the Minnesota Supreme Court reversed those convictions claiming that the state’s law against encouraging or advising suicides was too broad. However, the court upheld part of the law that makes it a crime to assist someone’s suicide.
On Friday, lawyers returned to court to argue whether Melchert-Dinkel’s actions qualified.
Nadia Kajouji was 18 when she ended her life.
Evidence at that trial showed Melchert-Dinkel was obsessed with suicide and sought out people online who appeared depressed. He posed as a suicidal female nurse, faked compassion, and offered detailed instructions how they could kill themselves. Police said he told them he did it for “the thrill of the chase.”
Assistant Rice County Attorney Terence Swihart said the state Supreme Court had defined “assist” as providing a person with what they need to die by suicide.
Defence lawyer Terry Watkins said that while Melchert-Dinkel encouraged the suicides, he didn’t have a knowing role in the commission of the acts and there was no evidence that his advice led to the suicides.
The judge took the case under advisement and was expected to issue a decision within 30 days.
With files from The Associated Press and The Canadian Press
查看原文...
