Richard Frase on the suicide nurse case
by Tom Crann, Minnesota Public RadioSt. Paul, Minn. — The case of a Fairbault nurse charged with two counts of assisting suicides through internet communications is now in the hands of a Rice County judge.
William Melchert-Dinkel is accused of encouraging several people online to commit suicide. A man in England and a woman in Canada both killed themselves after communicating with Melchert-Dinkel online.
Melchert-Dinkel has waived his right to a jury trial and has accepted the evidence brought against him.
While a verdict is due within the next 20-days, the arguments around this case are expected to last much longer.
To talk about why, we've called Richard Frase, a professor of criminal law at the University of Minnesota.
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Tom Crann
• Host, All Things ConsideredTom Crann is the host of All Things Considered for MPR News.
