Tag: William Melchert-Dinkel

Appeals court affirms one conviction, overturns another in assisting suicide cases

By Dave Andrusko The case of William Melchert-Dinkel, a former nurse convicted of assisted suicide, took still another twist this week when The Minnesota Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction “for assisting the suicide of a British man, but reversed his conviction for attempting to assist a Canadian woman’s suicide,” the Associated Press’ Steve Karnowski …

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Faribault man convicted of assisted suicide headed to jail tonight

  Sentenced to six months under Minnesota’s assisted suicide law FARIBAULT, MN — William Melchert-Dinkel will begin serving his jail sentence here tonight for violating Minnesota’s prohibition against assisting suicide. His case highlights the abhorrence of someone assisting another person in killing themselves. “William Melchert-Dinkel assisted at least one person to kill themselves, and his …

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Dangers of assisted suicide highlighted as Minnesota judge hears closing arguments

  Faribault man entered false suicide pacts; two committed suicide FARIBAULT, MINNESOTA — Closing arguments were heard today in the case of a former Faribault nurse who went online and urged people to commit suicide while he watched. William Francis Melchert-Dinkel has been charged under Minnesota’s law which bans assisted suicide. Rice Co. District Court …

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Minnesota Supreme Court upholds law against assisting suicide–strikes “advises, encourages”

  In State of Minnesota v. Melchert-Dinkel, the Minnesota Supreme Court today upheld the state’s law against assisting suicide. In a 4-1 decision, the justices noted that the statute “proscribes speech or conduct that provides another person with what is needed for the person to commit suicide” including “speech instructing another on suicide methods,” although …

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Minnesota Supreme Court accepts appeal from man convicted of encouraging two people to kill themselves

By Dave Andrusko The Minnesota Supreme Court has granted a request to hear an appeal from William Melchert-Dinkel, who was convicted in 2011 of using the Internet to encourage two people to kill themselves. Oral arguments have not yet been scheduled for the ex-nurse whom a Rice County District judge found guilty of advising and …

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Conviction for assisting suicides upheld by Minnesota Court of Appeals

By Dave Andrusko In a blistering opinion, the Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that the First Amendment does not protect the “morbid, predatory behavior” of an ex-nurse convicted of using the Internet to urge two people to kill themselves. William Melchert-Dinkel was found guilty in March 2011 by Rice County District Judge Thomas Neuville …

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Melchert-Dinkel appealing his conviction in death of Nadia Kajouji

By Alex Schadenberg, executive director Euthanasia Prevention Coalition An article that is written by Samantha Bushey and published Wednesday in the Faribault Daily News [Minnesota] explains that William Melchert-Dinkel, who was convicted for his part in the death of Canadian teenager Nadia Kajouji, has appealed his conviction. The article states: “Oral arguments could be heard …

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Melchert-Dinkel sentenced in his double conviction for internet suicide predator crimes

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Editor’s note. We’ve written several times about William Melchert-Dinkel. The following, from Alex Schadenberg, executive director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, adds a number of quotes from newspapers following the sentencing of Melchert-Dinkel for aiding in two suicides. This blog entry can be found  here . Three years after the death of Nadia Kajouji, William …

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Former Nurse Given Mild Sentence for Aiding in Two Suicides

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By Dave Andrusko A former nurse, described by prosecutors as obsessed with hanging and suicide, was sentenced today to less than a year for aiding the suicides of Canadian Nadia Kajouji, 18, and Mark Drybrough, 32. Convicted in March by Rice County District Judge Thomas Neuville, William Melchert-Dinkel will spend 320 days in jail and …

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Former Nurse Convicted of Two Counts of Aiding in Suicides, “Free Speech” Defense Rejected

By Dave Andrusko A judge in Faribault, Minnesota found William Melchert-Dinkel guilty Tuesday of two counts of aiding in suicides. Rice County District Judge Thomas Neuville rejected the two defenses offered by attorney Terry Watkins: that Melchert-Dinkel’s online statements were protected free speech and that they did not sway Mark Drybrough, 32, and Nadia Kajouji, …

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