Monday, March 15, 2010

Around AmeriKa: The Devil Went Down to Georgia

He must have heard they were giving souls away....

"Four accused of assisting in man’s suicide indicted in Georgia; Patient allegedly was on the mend" by Greg Bluestein, Associated Press | March 10, 2010

ATLANTA - A grand jury indicted four members of an assisted suicide group yesterday, accusing them of helping a 58-year-old man with cancer kill himself.

Wow, a five-for-one. Not a bad deal for the devil, huh?


The four - the Final Exit Network’s former president, its former medical director, and two others - were indicted by a Forsyth County, Ga., grand jury on charges of offering assistance in the commission of suicide, tampering with evidence, and violating the state’s anti-racketeering law..

They were arrested more than a year ago in connection with John Celmer’s death after an eight-month investigation in which an undercover agent infiltrated the group.

Authorities say the network, which was also indicted, has helped dozens of people kill themselves. Some members already faced charges in Arizona.

I may upset some of my pro-life readers; however, on this one I am for the families and deceased against the government. Government already intrudes enough into our lives (as they slowly kill us, how odd) and here they are again.

The indictment names former network president Thomas E. Goodwin, former medical director Dr. Lawrence D. Egbert, Nicholas Alec Sheridan, and Claire Blehr.

The group and its attorneys have long argued that members never actively assist with suicide, but simply guide people through the process.

Unlike a lying, war criminal national government, 'eh, America?

Heck, soldiers are feeling so much guilt when they return they are doing it to themselves in ever increasing numbers.

“We’ve been working on this case for a year,’’ said Don Samuel, a defense lawyer who represents Egbert and the network. “We’re confident in our defense, and we expect a very favorable outcome.’’

Yeah, juries are usually pretty open-minded on these cases.

Put yourself in the position of the suffering; what would you want?

Other defense attorneys did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment.

Goodwin and Blehr were with Celmer when he died, each holding one of his hands, according to court records.

Aaaaah.

I guess all of us hope that will be our end, 'eh, readers?

That someone will be there holding your hand as you expire.

That someone cared enough to... woah, water from the eyes.

Afterward, investigators said, they removed a helium tank and a hood Celmer wore to help him suffocate. Investigators say Egbert and Sheridan evaluated him before his death and gave the OK for his suicide.

The network bases its work on “The Final Exit,’’ a best-selling suicide manual by British author Derek Humphry. In court papers, investigators said the organization recommends using helium because it is undetectable during an autopsy.

Georgia authorities say Celmer was making a remarkable recovery from cancer when the network sent guides to his home to show him how to suffocate himself.

The government said that, did they?

They should be glad I'm not a potential juror in Georgia.

--more--"

Also see: Massachusetts Justice: Building Bridges to Georgia