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CT Man Who Assists Suicide Given Compassionate Sentence

By TChris, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Fri Apr 08, 2005 at 09:12:44 AM EST
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by TChris

Another news story that will upset the "culture of life" crowd:

A man who helped his cancer-stricken friend commit suicide was granted a special probation Thursday in which his conviction can be erased from state records after a year.

Huntington Williams, 74, gave his 66 year old friend a gun and discussed with him "the most effective spot to aim the weapon." Connecticut Superior Court Judge Robert C. Brunetti showed compassion for the difficult choice that confronted Williams. "Mr. Williams," the judge said, "I can only say to you, I'm glad it wasn't me put in your position that day."

One hundred courtroom supporters of Williams burst into applause when Williams was placed on probation with the opportunity to expunge his conviction. Let's hope that Judge Brunetti won't be threatened with impeachment (or worse) for daring to be kind.

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    CT Man Who Assists Suicide Given Compassionate Sentence | 10 comments (10 topical)
    Re: CT Man Who Assists Suicide Given Compassionate (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 08, 2005 at 10:25:09 AM EST
    Note the age, nothing was about the compassionate ideals, its his age, what will the state do to him at 74? it would cost the state 10 times the money to keep this old guy in prison. but the system could take his s.s. for cost of imprisonment.

    Re: CT Man Who Assists Suicide Given Compassionate (none / 0) (#2)
    by kdog on Fri Apr 08, 2005 at 10:59:58 AM EST
    This aught to rile up some fundamentalists who want to impose their morals and ideas on life and death on this poor man. I'm with the judge, I'd hate to be in his position, it was a no-win situation (suffer or die), but it was certainly not criminal in my eyes.

    Re: CT Man Who Assists Suicide Given Compassionate (none / 0) (#3)
    by desertswine on Fri Apr 08, 2005 at 11:11:55 AM EST
    Really, no act of kindness goes unpunished.

    Re: CT Man Who Assists Suicide Given Compassionate (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 08, 2005 at 11:21:21 AM EST
    the guy gave his friend the gun, maybe some legal restrictions on that, shared some knowledge, wasn't how to build a bomb, don't see were the legality of that comes into play, no indication that he was physically assistaning friend (holding the hand that holds the gun, or something like that). seems like a reach to even call this assisted suicide, maybe some ATF consequences at best. ?could the judges actions be deemed activist? i guess you have to be very careful about loaning friends your tools and the knowldge you impart/share.

    Re: CT Man Who Assists Suicide Given Compassionate (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 08, 2005 at 11:26:38 AM EST
    it ain't the judges, it's the "activist prosecutors".

    Re: CT Man Who Assists Suicide Given Compassionate (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 08, 2005 at 11:40:38 AM EST
    I really don't think many of us (left or right) disagree with ones 'right to die'. The issue (as in the Shiavo case) is one's capacity to choose. Its really very simple. Common sense party in 08 !

    Re: CT Man Who Assists Suicide Given Compassionate (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 08, 2005 at 11:55:24 AM EST
    Accessory to cowardice, some friend.

    Re: CT Man Who Assists Suicide Given Compassionate (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 08, 2005 at 12:01:17 PM EST
    Yeah, suck it up. Be a man and be eaten away slowly like a good cancer paitent.

    Re: CT Man Who Assists Suicide Given Compassionate (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 08, 2005 at 12:18:50 PM EST
    Fred writes: "Note the age, nothing was about the compassionate ideals, its his age, what will the state do to him at 74? it would cost the state 10 times the money to keep this old guy in prison." Actually, I'm pretty sure people in the same age bracket have been convicted and imprisoned for similar offenses. I think some cases the 'perp' took a more active role, for example, an old guy shooting his terminally ill wife. (I suppose that'd be necessary if the wife was unable to hold or operate the gun herself.)

    Re: CT Man Who Assists Suicide Given Compassionate (none / 0) (#10)
    by kdog on Fri Apr 08, 2005 at 12:50:44 PM EST
    Well said Ern.

    CT Man Who Assists Suicide Given Compassionate Sentence | 10 comments (10 topical)