This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »
Disgustedman · 61-69, M
2brandon2 · 18-21, M
@Disgustedman my dad works in the ER and he had a kid who threatened to commit suicide while he was playing a video game online. Someone told him to go hang himself. So he did fortunately for him the extension cord that he used broke. My dad said he came in in critical condition, so I wouldn’t go telling anybody to go ahead and do it because they just might this kid was only 15.
CrazyMusicLover · 31-35
@Disgustedman Isn't that some kind of crime nowadays? I mean if there's the evidence you encouraged someone to commit suicide.
Disgustedman · 61-69, M
@CrazyMusicLover my post was more meant to in a humorous vein as I have heard of people challenging a person who was suicidal to actually do it this was rooftop negotiations and they backed off. Will I ever actually do that oh hell no I've got enough blood on my hands from other s*** I don't need that. But below is your answer.
Is it illegal to tell someone to kill themselves?
When you can be charged with “assisting a suicide” and which defense strategies can be used to fight these charges? Our Pittsburgh criminal defense attorneys explain.
First and foremost, it is important to understand that the prosecutor will have to establish any of these two elements by proof beyond a reasonable doubt in order charge you with promoting suicide in Pittsburgh or elsewhere in Pennsylvania:
You assisted someone else in committing suicide; or
You deliberately aided, advised, promoted, or encouraged someone else to end their life.
It often happens that innocent people are convicted of encouraging a suicide because of the text, voicemail, or email they had sent to the deceased prior to his or her suicide. Many people are also wrongly accused of this crime due to the use of witness statements as evidence against them.
But here’s what truly matters. In order to establish “intentional conduct,” a prosecutor will have to demonstrate evidence that you had conscious objective or purpose to aid, advise, promote, or encourage the victim to take his or her own life.
Thus, if you were (a) merely trying to tease the victim, (b) being sarcastic, (c) merely trying to hurt the victim in an emotional manner without wanting to cause them physical harm, or (d) merely discussing suicide, the prosecution should not be able to charge you with “aiding a suicide” as a crime.
It is true that if you were harassing the victim prior to his or her suicide, you may be charged with criminal harassment, but if you had no actual intent for the victim to act on your encouraging statements to commit suicide, you will most likely be able to escape “assisting a suicide” charges. That is, of course, if you are being represented by a Pittsburgh criminal defense lawyer.
Is it illegal to tell someone to kill themselves?
When you can be charged with “assisting a suicide” and which defense strategies can be used to fight these charges? Our Pittsburgh criminal defense attorneys explain.
First and foremost, it is important to understand that the prosecutor will have to establish any of these two elements by proof beyond a reasonable doubt in order charge you with promoting suicide in Pittsburgh or elsewhere in Pennsylvania:
You assisted someone else in committing suicide; or
You deliberately aided, advised, promoted, or encouraged someone else to end their life.
It often happens that innocent people are convicted of encouraging a suicide because of the text, voicemail, or email they had sent to the deceased prior to his or her suicide. Many people are also wrongly accused of this crime due to the use of witness statements as evidence against them.
But here’s what truly matters. In order to establish “intentional conduct,” a prosecutor will have to demonstrate evidence that you had conscious objective or purpose to aid, advise, promote, or encourage the victim to take his or her own life.
Thus, if you were (a) merely trying to tease the victim, (b) being sarcastic, (c) merely trying to hurt the victim in an emotional manner without wanting to cause them physical harm, or (d) merely discussing suicide, the prosecution should not be able to charge you with “aiding a suicide” as a crime.
It is true that if you were harassing the victim prior to his or her suicide, you may be charged with criminal harassment, but if you had no actual intent for the victim to act on your encouraging statements to commit suicide, you will most likely be able to escape “assisting a suicide” charges. That is, of course, if you are being represented by a Pittsburgh criminal defense lawyer.