Question:
Help with a murder question, what will happen to person B?
anonymous
2011-06-20 22:55:44 UTC
Person A is person B's father. Person B takes his promises EXTREMELY serious and has NEVER broken one in his entire life. Person A has asked person B to 'promise me you'll kill me if I ever end up in a wheel chair' and person B made this promise. Now assuming person B follows through with the promise when person A DOES end up in the wheel chair, what will happen to person B involving law for killing his father? And if person B has a recording/signed letter of Person A saying that he DOES want this promise to happen, will person B still be in trouble?
Nine answers:
Andy
2011-06-21 00:01:02 UTC
With proof of the promise being made it could result in a charge of assisted suicide rather than murder, or possibly a manslaughter charge. However it's a slightly tricky one and chances are more than likely person B would still be charged with murder.



Whether person B was found guilty of any of the above offences would depend on the exact circumstances and the juries opinions about it to some extent.



It is possible, maybe, that if person A was suffering from a terminal condition and was in a lot of pain and discomfort which could not be relieved (as well as being in a wheelchair) then person A may receive a lesser sentence due to the defense that they were helping to end the suffering of person A and were motivated only by that and their promise to person A and not by any malicious intent.



There is a legal doctrine known as "Mens Rea" (literally "guilty mind") which means that for a person to be found guilty of a crime, they must have had the intention to commit the act, and they knew, or ought to have known that it was illegal and / or morally wrong to do so. That legal doctrine isn't always applied the way it should be but a good lawyer would probably argue that it applies in this case. However that wouldn't necessarily mean a not guilt verdict, because person B probably did know that killing a person is illegal (even if his intentions were good).



As you can see there are various possible outcomes depending on the exact circumstances and the opinions of the judge and jury. However chances are high that person B would still end up serving some form of prison sentence.
Ben Sherwin
2011-06-20 23:22:45 UTC
If you look at the facts, this is Murder in the first degree. Simple as that. Based on the fact that this is arranged, there is a case against person B for pre-meditated murder. If you know anything about Dr. Kevorkian, then you would know that he has been known for this type of behavior, and was also sent to prison for 10-25 for Murder 1 and 2. Best case scenario, person B is charged with assisted suicide, which carries a penalty the same as Murder 2. Whether it is in writing or not, there is no way around the fact it is murder.
anonymous
2011-06-20 22:59:52 UTC
Person B will go to jail for the rest of his/her life for murder. It is not legal to help someone commit suicide. The letter will not help because contracts are not enforceable according to the law if the intent is to commit a crime. Since they take promises so seriously, person B should have never promised such a thing if they don't want to end up in jail.
Mike
2011-06-20 22:57:53 UTC
well the law is the law. simple as that. it's illegal to kill a person. therefore, consequences will be followed through.
anonymous
2011-06-21 00:16:49 UTC
Forget it, you'll never get away with it. Especially now. . .just wait 'til the insurance company sees your post!
anonymous
2011-06-20 23:05:21 UTC
Don't assist suicide take him to a walk in medical faility in England he'll be dead in hours
anonymous
2011-06-20 22:57:59 UTC
You will be arrested for assiting with a suicide
anonymous
2011-06-20 22:57:01 UTC
its still murder and realy person a / b. thats sad
anonymous
2011-06-21 01:36:42 UTC
They will be charged with assisting suicide.


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