In New Zealand, authorities have filed charges against an American woman who admitted in a BBC documentary that she assisted in a suicide there. Susan Wilson of North Carolina now denies she did anything except sit next to the deathbed of Audrey Wallis in 2007, according to the New Zealand Herald.
Wilson is accused of providing a lethal drug to Wallis and receiving $12,000 in compensation. However, Wilson cannot be forced to face the charges since assisted suicide is not included in the extradition treaty between the United States and New Zealand, the Herald reported. "The warrant will remain active should the defendant choose to return to New Zealand at any stage in the future," Detective Sergeant Scott Armstrong told the newspaper.
Wallis's death was initially thought to be an overdose, since she "was not terminally ill at the time she committed suicide—but was addicted to painkillers and suffering mental health problems," according to the Herald. But the BBC broadcast a documentary in 2008 that included statements from Wilson describing her trip to New Zealand to assist in Wallis's suicide.
Ironically, euthanasia activist Lesley Martin filed the complaint that led to the charges against Wilson. Dignity NZ, Martin's organization, is seeking legalized assisted suicide, while the notorious Philip Nitschke's group Exit International flouts current law and publicizes ways people can kill themselves. Nitschke has been speaking in Susan Wilson's defense and communicating statements from her, the New Zealand Press Association (NZPA) reported.
Martin's complaint was based on the documentary and on statements from Wallis's friend Annette Houghton. "Three weeks before Audrey died she withdrew $12,000 from her bank account," Martin told the Herald. "So once Annette and I spoke we worked out that it was highly likely Wilson had assisted Audrey to die and needed further investigation."
After the charges were filed, Wilson sent an e-mail to Nitschke denying her involvement in the suicide. She said Wallis asked her for details on how to kill herself. "Susan provided that information, sat with her when she ended her life using helium to cause anoxia, and received compensation for air fares and accommodation to visit NZ totaling $2000." Nitschke said in a statement, according to NZPA.
Contact: Liz Townsend
Source: NRLC
Publish Date: March 30, 2010
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