Melchert-Dinkel pleads not guilty to encouraging suicide

An article in the AOL news article by Hugh Collins, a few days ago, reported that William Melchert-Dinkel has pled not guilty of encouraging suicide in the deaths of Nadia Kajouji, the Carlton University student in Ottawa Canada, who died by suicide in March 2008 and Mark Drybrough, of Coventry England, who died in 2005.

The article stated:

Prosecutors in Rice County, Minn., say that Merchert-Dinkel posed as a female nurse on Internet chat rooms and gave Kajouji and Drybrough advice on how they could best kill themselves. He entered his not guilty plea Friday.

If found guilty, Melchert-Dinkel, who is now a truck driver, could face 15 years in prison, QMI Agency said.

Using online names such as "Cami" and "Li Dao," Melchert-Dinkel allegedly discussed techniques for suicide and even offered to enter into a suicide pact with Kajouji to strengthen her resolve.

Melchert-Dinkel admitted to entering into suicide pacts with about 10 people. He believes that five of these people went on to kill themselves.

Melchert-Dinkel's lawyer failed to have the case dismissed based on communication via the internet being protected as free speech. Judge Thomas Neuville disagreed.

Melchert-Dinkel's lawyer is now attempting to have the case dismissed because the deaths did not take place in the United States.

The article states that:

District Judge Thomas Neuville will take the matter under advisement on Dec. 13. He will then have 60 days to make a decision.

The article stated that:

In one Internet chat, "Li Dao" (Melchert-Dinkel) offered Drybrough advice on how to hang himself without attaching the rope to the ceiling.

Police in Britain and the United States examined Drybrough's computer and determined that he had sought advice online on how to kill himself, Prosecutors say this advice came from Melchert-Dinkel's computer.

Marc kajouji, Nadia's brother stated in the article:

Surprisingly, I don't spend much time worrying what happens to Melchert-Dinkel. I spend my time thinking about how I can help others prevent suicide from hitting their family.

William Melchert-Dinkel needs to be prosecuted for steering vulnerable depressed people toward suicide.