Girl, 18, hit with manslaughter charge over friend's suicide


Recommended Posts

Massachusetts prosecutors say a troubled teen took his own life after exchanging texts with a fellow student who egged him on to do it.

 

Prosecutors from the Bristol County District Attorney

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I dont see how this can hold up in court.  Where would we draw the line after this ?  If a 2nd party can be convicted for a suicide; then, theoretically, so could any other 3rd, 4th, a group of people - or anyone who didnt take direct action against it.

I dont know what the DA's influence was, maybe the kid's parents have money - who knows ?

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

If She encouraged him to do it, and not contact or anybody to help or stop him or do so herself, she's liable for manslaughter.

 

IMO.

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

If She encouraged him to do it, and not contact or anybody to help or stop him or do so herself, she's liable for manslaughter.

 

IMO.

She may be, but setting a court precedence will cause all kinds of future problems.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So if someone messages me and I missed the text then they killed themselves am I then going to be charged with Negligent Manslaughter? Like if I had just answered my phone/SMS and told them don't do it then they would have been alive today??

Since when is a normal person a train psychologist and able to diagnose these sort of behaviours? For all we know he prolly joked about it several times before so she was playing along and didn't think it was for real. She could have also been busy doing other things and didn't have the time to fully read and comprehend what as said.

This is why I hate doing important stuff over SMS. From making plans for dinner to vacations, pick up the phone!! If I'm gonna kill myself I'm not gonna SMS someone and ask for help. I pick up the phone and call everyone in my phonebook and then 911/ or whatever till I get someone to talk to.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So if someone messages me and I missed the text then they killed themselves am I then going to be charged with Negligent Manslaughter? Like if I had just answered my phone/SMS and told them don't do it then they would have been alive today??

Since when is a normal person a train psychologist and able to diagnose these sort of behaviours? For all we know he prolly joked about it several times before so she was playing along and didn't think it was for real. She could have also been busy doing other things and didn't have the time to fully read and comprehend what as said.

This is why I hate doing important stuff over SMS. From making plans for dinner to vacations, pick up the phone!! If I'm gonna kill myself I'm not gonna SMS someone and ask for help. I pick up the phone and call everyone in my phonebook and then 911/ or whatever till I get someone to talk to.

Huge difference between that and what happened.

 

She literally texted him back telling him he should get back into the car that was being used as a gas chamber. She directly influenced his choice and actively encouraged him to kill himself.

 

By way of his diminished abilities (apparent in that he was trying to kill himself) she found herself in a position of power and used this to actively encourage him to kill himself. There's a ton of precedent law that could be applied..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

her facebook page is so sick with tons of messages "missing him" and fundraisers and crap WHEN SHE IS THE ONE THAT TOLD HIM TO DO IT!!!

 

hope she rots in her own filth that she created.

 

Archived screenshot in case her page is deleted: http://i.imgur.com/QDT8eNq.png

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's all well and good to blame her for encouraging him to do it but I'd like to see previous texts or what their relationship was like before it happened.

 

Plenty of guys and girls threaten suicide when they don't get what they want in a relationship or friendship, they use it to emotionally abuse the other person as a means to get them to do what they want. She might have responded in that way because she was sick of dealing with him.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

She may be, but setting a court precedence will cause all kinds of future problems.

What do you mean by setting up court precedence?  This has been in the court system for years already.  Most states, in fact, have current laws which make it illegal to intentionally advise, encourage, or assist another in taking the other's own life.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What do you mean by setting up court precedence? This has been in the court system for years already. Most states, in fact, have current laws which make it illegal to intentionally advise, encourage, or assist another in taking the other's own life.

^^ THIS!!

Even in those few states with an assisted suicide law counselling is restricted to those with more qualifications than a FB page.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's all well and good to blame her for encouraging him to do it but I'd like to see previous texts or what their relationship was like before it happened.

 

Plenty of guys and girls threaten suicide when they don't get what they want in a relationship or friendship, they use it to emotionally abuse the other person as a means to get them to do what they want. She might have responded in that way because she was sick of dealing with him.

 

You don't exchange thousands of text messages if you are sick of dealing with someone.  Even if you are sick of dealing with someone...you certainly do not suggest and help choose the method for them to kill themselves.

 

So if someone messages me and I missed the text then they killed themselves am I then going to be charged with Negligent Manslaughter? Like if I had just answered my phone/SMS and told them don't do it then they would have been alive today??

Since when is a normal person a train psychologist and able to diagnose these sort of behaviours? For all we know he prolly joked about it several times before so she was playing along and didn't think it was for real. She could have also been busy doing other things and didn't have the time to fully read and comprehend what as said.

This is why I hate doing important stuff over SMS. From making plans for dinner to vacations, pick up the phone!! If I'm gonna kill myself I'm not gonna SMS someone and ask for help. I pick up the phone and call everyone in my phonebook and then 911/ or whatever till I get someone to talk to.

 

If she was an innocent or had a kind heart...she would have tried to prevent it ... not encourage it.  I understand that not everyone is a psychologist ... but no one can say that her actions were well intended or accident.  Remember, they exchanged over a thousand text messages...so "she was busy" doesn't really fly.  

 

I dont see how this can hold up in court.  Where would we draw the line after this ?  If a 2nd party can be convicted for a suicide; then, theoretically, so could any other 3rd, 4th, a group of people - or anyone who didnt take direct action against it.

I dont know what the DA's influence was, maybe the kid's parents have money - who knows ?

 

 

Huge difference.  More than a thousand text messages were sent between the two leading up to his suicide.  The text showed that she helped him choose the method (carbon monoxide).  He told her that he was scared but she continued to encourage him.  He got out of the truck and she told him to get back and then he carried out the act.

 

She should be charged with manslaughter and if the court finds her guilty...be locked away for a long time.  She is, by these preliminary charges, just a sick and twisted girl.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

So if someone messages me and I missed the text then they killed themselves am I then going to be charged with Negligent Manslaughter? Like if I had just answered my phone/SMS and told them don't do it then they would have been alive today??

Since when is a normal person a train psychologist and able to diagnose these sort of behaviours? For all we know he prolly joked about it several times before so she was playing along and didn't think it was for real. She could have also been busy doing other things and didn't have the time to fully read and comprehend what as said.

This is why I hate doing important stuff over SMS. From making plans for dinner to vacations, pick up the phone!! If I'm gonna kill myself I'm not gonna SMS someone and ask for help. I pick up the phone and call everyone in my phonebook and then 911/ or whatever till I get someone to talk to.

If you're on the verge of committing suicice, you're not in your right mind.  If you're not in your right mind you're not going to think to call or email or sms anyone. Because you're not in your right mind. 

 

WTF @ T3X4S trying to defend the bitch. 

OK then so I'm ###### off after an argument and tell someone go kill them self and they do it, it becomes my fault now?

If that were the case maybe you should reconsider your argument techniques.  No, the analogue here would be someone standing on a bridge, asking you if they should jump, and you say yes.  Anyone that would do that is a twisted horrible human being and doesn't belong in civilized society. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OK then so I'm ###### off after an argument and tell someone go kill them self and they do it, it becomes my fault now?

 

No. This wasn't a one off. This is a unique circumstance of her encouraging and helping him to commit suicide.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

OK then so I'm ###### off after an argument and tell someone go kill them self and they do it, it becomes my fault now?

The keyword in the law is "intentionally".  Simply telling one to jump of a bridge does not mean you intend for them to do so....unless that person comes to you expressing suicidal intentions.

 

If I recall, the laws started to appear back when people commonly jumped from buildings.  I don't recall the specific event, but do remember the outburst on the news about a few spectaculars actually chanting; encouraging a man to jump.  The laws later spread like wildfire as soon as Dr. Kavorkian (sp?) hit the scenes.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Huge difference between that and what happened.

 

She literally texted him back telling him he should get back into the car that was being used as a gas chamber. She directly influenced his choice and actively encouraged him to kill himself.

 

By way of his diminished abilities (apparent in that he was trying to kill himself) she found herself in a position of power and used this to actively encourage him to kill himself. There's a ton of precedent law that could be applied..

 

 

So, if a friend texts me that they 'are going to kill themselves', and I think they may be joking, and I say 'then go do it.' - then they do, the police can then come to my door for murder charges??? Or if someone is moping around, and you jokingly tell them to 'get lost and off themselves', etc. - then you are guilty of killing them?

 

Bah. Not saying that the above was the case for the girl, as I don't know what was in her heart or head, but now we are moving into judges and police reading intent a lot more than they should, and holding people responsible for another person's actions. This is a nanny attitude more than ever before - no one can be held accountable for their own actions anymore, it seems.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I dont see how this can hold up in court.  Where would we draw the line after this ?  If a 2nd party can be convicted for a suicide; then, theoretically, so could any other 3rd, 4th, a group of people - or anyone who didnt take direct action against it.

I dont know what the DA's influence was, maybe the kid's parents have money - who knows ?

 

 

I would think the fact that life insurance payouts or other things would come into play here. Wrongful death, murder, etc will all influence the monetary outcome for the parents in their time of grief. Also, for a DA, this is huge publicity and name recognition if they win.

 

Not saying they are doing this, but they and the state are looking for blame, and of course, you can never blame the person that actually does the thing, so they are after the next best thing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

>

Not saying they are doing this, but they and the state are looking for blame, and of course, you can never blame the person that actually does the thing, so they are after the next best thing.

What's making this so hard to understand? When there is a power disparity due to one party having a diminished capacity for decision-making there is a responsibility shift.

Her responsibility falls under the language of acting with "a callous (or reckless) disregard for human life" that results in a death. Some states also have Reckless Endangerment; "engaging in conduct which creates a substantial risk of serious physical injury to another person."

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

OK then so I'm ###### off after an argument and tell someone go kill them self and they do it, it becomes my fault now?

That depends.  Will you help research how to do it and coax them into doing it?

 

People wishing to commit suicide are not mentally well.  If you would take advantage of that and see someone to their death, then yeah, you should be liable.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What's making this so hard to understand? When there is a power disparity due to one party having a diminished capacity for decision-making there is a responsibility shift.

Her responsibility falls under the language of acting with "a callous (or reckless) disregard for human life" that results in a death. Some states also have Reckless Endangerment; "engaging in conduct which creates a substantial risk of serious physical injury to another person."

 

That is bull, pure and simple. So what, the other kid was too dumb to decide what to do, and blindly did what they were told? They were too drunk, or too high, or too unsmart? I can totally see where someone that is legally mentally retarded would/could have a real case, but someone that has their mental faculties intact, no.

 

Also, Reckless Endangerment is for doing something physically that causes harm through your stupidity, or actions. So, now words are killers. Great. Perfect world we are moving into.

 

Let's start arguing that people are never responsible, since there is always something else to blame.

 

So, what's too hard to understand? That people can be so idiotic to believe that a girl telling him via text to get back in the car would mean he had to do it, was forced, or coerced based on his poor frail diminished capacity. Forget that junk.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That is bull, pure and simple. So what, the other kid was too dumb to decide what to do, and blindly did what they were told? They were too drunk, or too high, or too unsmart? I can totally see where someone that is legally mentally retarded would/could have a real case, but someone that has their mental faculties intact, no.

>

In my above quotation "reckless" can include Criminal Negligence, which is a criminal act of omission where the fault lies in the failure to foresee, and therefore allow, avoidable dangers to occur. "She should have known better" applies.

Someone who isn't terminally ill who is suicidal is very likely mentally ill, a major depression being likely. They are no less vulnerable than someone who's mentally challenged.

This kind of power disparity protection is nothing new in the law, being seen in child and elder abuse/neglect/exploitation and in the protections offered to the mentally ill. This poor kid falls into the latter.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I dont see how this can hold up in court. Where would we draw the line after this ? If a 2nd party can be convicted for a suicide; then, theoretically, so could any other 3rd, 4th, a group of people - or anyone who didnt take direct action against it.

I dont know what the DA's influence was, maybe the kid's parents have money - who knows ?

This is something being brought up in schools now, in the UK, something to do with choices made, a person in a crowd can be guilty if said person is deliberately trying to make worse a situation.

I had to tell my son, if he's in a crowd that has witnessed an altercation of any sort, he has to make a choice, either try to stop it, or walk away so he has no part in whatever the incident was. (Words to that effect)

(From a legal standpoint)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OK then so I'm ###### off after an argument and tell someone go kill them self and they do it, it becomes my fault now?

Legally, I cannot answer this question, as I'm not trained in law, but I would ask, did you mean it?

If you answer yes, then yes. Words have power over us, they're beautiful, they can bring joy, and happiness to someone, but they can also cause great pain, as a law abiding citizen, you have to choose the best way to make a point.

(Similar to how the profanity filter caught the slang word for urinated in your post, which exists because some people are just too oversensitive to a swear word)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.