Minn. man convicted of aiding suicide will appeal
A former nurse sentenced to 360 days in jail for going online and allegedly encouraging two depressed people to kill themselves is appealing.
An attorney for William Melchert-Dinkel says he has filed notice of his intent to appeal. Attorney Terry Watkins said Wednesday he intends to argue that Melchert-Dinkel was exercising his right to free speech.
Melchert-Dinkel has been free since his sentencing May 4. Since he filed the notice of appeal Tuesday, before a Wednesday deadline, he'll remain free while the appeal is pending.
In a statement read at sentencing, the 48-year-old Faribault man said he was sorry for his role in the deaths of an English man and a Canadian woman. He has admitted that what he did was morally wrong, but claims he did nothing illegal.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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