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A lawyer for an ex-nurse charged with
encouraging two people to kill themselves says the case should be
dismissed because Minnesota's law on assisting suicide is vague and
his client's behavior is protected speech.


     Prosecutors say William Melchert-Dinkel, 48, of Faribault, 
visited suicide chat rooms online and offered step-by-step
instructions for committing suicide. He's charged in the suicides
of an English man and a Canadian woman.
      

In court documents obtained Friday by The Associated Press,
attorney Terry Watkins says the charges are based on online chats
and e-mail exchanges, and there are no allegations of direct
involvement in the suicides.


      He says the Minnesota Legislature hasn't clarified what type of
conduct would violate its assisted suicide law.
      

 Rice County Attorney Paul Beaumaster said he would file his
response in about a month.

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Minn. nurse charged with aiding suicides appears in court

Minnesota man faces aiding suicide charges

Crime, Law and Justice

Health

Amy Forliti, Associated Press

Author

A lawyer for an ex-nurse charged with
encouraging two people to kill themselves says the case should be
dismissed because Minnesota's law on assisting suicide is vague and
his client's behavior is protected speech.


Lawyer wants aiding-suicide case in Minn. dismissed

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