Lawyer wants aiding-suicide case in Minn. dismissed

Amy Forliti, Associated Press
Minneapolis

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William Melchert-Dinkel
This Oct. 15, 2009 file photo, shows William Melchert-Dinkel in Faribault, Minn. Melchert-Dinkel, a former nurse who was stripped of his license last year, was charged Friday, April 23, 2010, with aiding the suicides of at least two people by encouraging them to kill themselves in Internet chats.
AP Photo/Robb Long, File

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.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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