A British man allegedly addicted to watching others commit suicide on the internet is to be charged with encouraging and assisting suicide.
The UK's Daily Mail reports that William Francis Melchert-Dinkel posed online as a young woman and declared himself to be a nurse. He allegedly encouraged more than 100 people across the world to commit suicide.
It is believed he encouraged 18 year-old Canadian student, Nadia Kajouji to commit suicide.
She drowned in a river after chats with Mr Melchert-Dinkel. He advised her that his job as a nurse made him a specialist in the most effective ways to end her life.
According to the Daily Mail he advised her on the best lengths and widths of rope and said that he wanted to watch, via webcam, her hang herself.
Mr Melchert-Dinkel's medical records show that he had a "suicide fetish (and) offered medical advice for assisted suicide."
The “suicide voyeur”, based in Minnesota in the US, would scan suicide websites and give advice about suicide techniques to depressed people. He would tell users that he too planned to commit suicide simultaneously and they could watch each other die on their webcams.
He never intended to go through with his side of the pact, according to the Daily Mail.
Many of the people he encouraged to kill themselves were teenagers, according to reports.
The 46 year-old trained nurse is to be charged with various offences by the Minnesota police, according to the Daily Mail..
* Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or SANE Helpline on 1800 18 SANE (7263).
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