Waterloo Region Record
jweidner@therecord.com , Twitter: @WeidnerRecord
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| Nadia Kajouji embraced by her father |
KITCHENER — Local MP Harold Albrecht
criticized a U.S. court ruling that overturned the conviction of a man
charged with encouraging a Brampton teen to take her own life.
William Melchert-Dinkel, a former nurse from
Minnesota, was convicted in 2014 of attempting to assist the suicide of
18-year-old Nadia Kajouji, who died after jumping into the Rideau River
in Ottawa in 2008.
The Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled Monday
there wasn't enough evidence to uphold the conviction in the Carleton
University student's death.
Kitchener-Conestoga MP Albrecht called the
reversal "a further indication of our devaluation of human life" in a
news release.
The court affirmed there was sufficient
evidence to convict Melchert-Dinkel of assisting the 2005 suicide of a
man in Coventry, England. The court ruled he gave the English man
detailed instructions on how to hang himself. However, because
Melchert-Dinkel didn't give specific instructions to Kajouji, he did not
directly assist in the suicide.
"To allow Melchert-Dinkel off on the
technicality that Kajouji did not follow his specific instructions to
her death is a sad commentary on our commitment to justice and the
protection of those among us who are the most vulnerable," said
Albrecht, an outspoken advocate for suicide prevention efforts both
locally and nationally.
Not long after Kajouji's death, Albrecht
tabled a motion dealing with the issue of Internet predators that was
adopted by Parliament. He also introduced a bill calling on the federal
government to create a national framework for suicide prevention, passed
in 2012.
Albrecht said his thoughts were with Kajouji's family.
"While nothing will restore Nadia's life to
them, at least there was some solace in the fact that a strong deterrent
message had been sent to Melchert-Dinkel and other potential
predators."
Albrecht works locally with the Waterloo
Region Suicide Prevention Council and its executive director Tana Nash,
who also holds that position for the Canadian Association for Suicide
Prevention now headquartered in Waterloo.
Nash said the latest decision in this case
illustrates the shortcomings of the law and the need for clearer
guidelines that reflect modern technology.
"As a caring community, we need to protect
those that are vulnerable from predators who seek out potential victims
online," Nash said in the release.
jweidner@therecord.com , Twitter: @WeidnerRecord