Story from Care not Killing
Nadia Kajouji, was an 18-year-old student at Carleton University in Ottawa when she tumbled into a deep depression and sought solace in a chat room where she was victimized by a predator who talked her into a supposed suicide pact.
Nadia followed through by throwing herself off a bridge into the Rideau River in March 2008. Her body was not found until five weeks later.
Earlier this year, Minnesota police identified William Melchert-Dinkel, a 46-year-old nurse, as the person who befriended Nadia by posing as a suicidal young woman. He allegedly tried to convince Kajouji to hang herself in front of a webcam so he could watch.
Melchert-Dinkel has been linked to five other suicides including that of 32-year-old IT technician Mark Drybrough, who hanged himself at his home in Coventry in June 2005.
The Coroners and Justice Bill, presently at committee stage in the House of Lords, aims to prevent the internet promotion of suicide and these provisions deserve our full support.
Unfortunately Dignity in Dying, formerly the Voluntary Euthanasia Society, is trying to hijack it for another purpose altogether – to allow assisted suicide for terminally ill people.
They are doing this because they have consistently failed in trying to change the law through private members bills brought openly so instead are aiming to smuggle the measures in through the back door in a government bill which has nothing whatsoever to do with assisted suicide.
In all the media hype surrounding their campaign young people like Nadia Kajouji who the bill seeks to protect are being forgotten.
Links
Nadia Kajouji
Victim's mother pushes for penalty against counselling suicide
Suspect may have encouraged 5 to commit suicide
Minnesota nurse possibly linked to British suicides
Nurse could face charges in Ottawa teen's suicide death
Did American male nurse 4,000 miles away help this man kill himself?