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Title: Defendant who texted teen to commit suicide sentenced to 15 months in jail
Source:
ArsTechnica
URL Source: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy ... de-ordered-to-serve-15-months/
Published: Aug 6, 2017
Author: David Kravets
Post Date: 2017-08-06 11:57:58 by Tooconservative
Keywords: None
Views: 4586
Comments: 36
A Massachusetts woman convicted of involuntary manslaughter because of text messages that cajoled her 18-year-old friend to commit suicide was sentenced Thursday to serve 15 months in jail. Michelle Carter, now 20, faced a maximum 20-year prison term. Her unusual prosecution was closely watched, and it occurred in a state that has no law forbidding people from encouraging suicide. But the authorities—including a Bristol County judge—concluded that in 2014 Carter sent Conrad Roy text messages that wantonly and recklessly caused him to poison himself in a car with carbon monoxide. She was 17 years old at the time. Judge Lawrence Moniz, who presided over the week-long, non-jury trial in June, issued the sentence in a packed courtroom in Taunton Trial Court, where Carter was tried as a juvenile. Noting that the prosecution was novel, Moniz stayed enforcement of any jail time until Carter exhausts her appeals in state court. Overall, Moniz issued a 2.5-year term but said the defendant should serve only 15 months at the Bristol County House of Correction. He suspended the remainder of the entire sentence. "This is an issue worthy of presentation to the appellate court," the judge said from the bench. "I don't know what the appeals court will do." Moniz, who said he balanced rehabilitation and punishment when formulating his sentence, called the case "a tragedy for two families." Defense attorneys maintained that the text messages were protected speech under the First Amendment and that the boy had planned to commit suicide regardless of Carter's cajoling. However, the state's top court had previously ruled against her, paving the way for the trial in which thousands of text messages and other communications between the two were admitted as evidence. "You're finally going to be happy in heaven," one text read. Another said, "All you have to do is turn on the generator and you will be free and happy." The state's top court last year upheld the indictment for involuntary manslaughter on "the basis of words alone" and that Carter was "virtually present" at Roy's suicide. The boy, who had been battling depression and had attempted suicide in 2012, was found dead in a parking lot about an hour's drive south of Boston. Carter was also on the phone with Roy while he was killing himself. She urged him to get back in the vehicle when he hesitated, according to testimony. Prosecutors sought a prison term of between seven and 12 years. Prosecutor Maryclare Flynn said Carter's "well thought out campaign" was for her "own personal gain and quest for attention." Defense attorney Joe Cataldo said Carter had an eating disorder and was on antidepressants. He argued for probation and no jail time. "She was going through some significant mental health issues herself," he told the judge during the hearing. Involuntary manslaughter in Massachusetts amounts to causing a death by behavior that has a likelihood of causing harm. The boy's father, also named Conrad Roy, told the court during the sentencing hearing that his son "was his best friend." "How could Michelle Carter behave so viciously and encourage my son to end his life?" he asked from the witness stand as he tried to choke back tears. Carter's father, David, urged for leniency and no jail time. "She will forever live with what she has done and I know will be a better person because of it," he wrote in a letter to the judge. "I ask of you to invoke leniency in your decision-making process for my loving child Michelle." Poster Comment: I'm sure a few of you have been waiting to see when I would post The Followup. I'm such a sucker for closure. 
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#1. To: Tooconservative (#0)
She would have been happier if she got on jail time out of contributing to a suicide because she would have then been able to celebrate the power she had over the life of someone else. Chances are she will try to do it again in the future,but will be more careful the next time. I see her active prison sentence as a GOOD thing because if she had gotten off with a slap on the wrist,other narcissists would have been encouraged to go for their own tv camera fact time,and all the glory from newspaper stories and photos,and people talking about them. They would have been virtually rolling in the self-love all that attention would have gotten them, In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
We'll still have more cases of this type, no matter what. The case is on appeal and she is free pending the final verdict. That means the judge is pretty uncertain that she will be found guilty on appeal. Keep in mind: there is no law in Massachusetts forbidding you to encourage someone to commit suicide. Do you really want to prosecute people every time someone says, "Oh, just kill yourself already!"? Anyway, we still haven't reached closure in the case since there will be at least one more story on the appeals court verdict. Then possibly two more appeals after that, depending on how the current appeal goes.
A guy is on top of a building, threatening to jump. The crowd below is chanting, "Jimp! Jump! Jump!" Should they all get 15 months in prison if he does? Horrible ruling by the judge. I can see this extending to bullying, hate speech, and even harassment. If I posted ESAD and you did, am I going to prison, too?
Yep, haul 'em all off to the FEMA death camp in Hardin, Montana. Well, okay, I guess not. Anyway, there are still a few appeals left after this, no matter what. And she still isn't in jail yet which tells you how uncertain that judge is about his verdict. In the end, he has no law under which to sentence her. And that may be her get-out-of-jail-free card.
No,but I would like to see people in a position to influence someone with emotional problems prosecuted if they took an active role in a suicide by encouraging it. At a minimum she was an accomplice. In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
Was everybody in the crowd his girlfriend? In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
I'd hit it. She a little Olivia Wilde-ish.
Those eyebrows would scare me off. I see them as a sign there is something seriously off-balance about her. In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
She was not his girlfriend. They met a few years earlier while both were on vacation in Florida. They had hardly any contact after that other than texting and online stuff. I'm not sure she ever saw him in person again after the Florida meeting.
Ok,I didn't know that. I had heard her identified as being his girlfriend. Yes,that does make a difference. In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
So now we've advanced from debating justice and the law and reached the I'd-fuck-that portion of our program... ‹/sigh›
Well, she did talk to him on the phone the night he killed himself and did send some do-it-already texts to him.
They keep UFO's there, right? Along with 2 million Americans? "In the end, he has no law under which to sentence her." Exactly. Which is why I mentioned the other possibilities. Dangerous precedent, especially if the federal governent decides it's a good idea.
Sorry ... I just thought ... you know ...
I've been waiting for some idiot congresscritter to file a bill named "Conrad's Law". You recall my thread yesterday about why these laws named after some dead kid are such a bad policy.
That's all right. Just grab the lotion and kleenex but be back here in 10 minutes, okay?
Well, this case hardly represents a trend sweeping America. Bullying, on the other hand, does. Isn't Melania working on that? When it happens, I predict they'll call it "Melania's Law" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_of_Megan_Meier
You were back in only 9 minutes, 20 seconds. Very timely. Apparently pete isn't as fast. ; ) Melania won by settling. Got a few million and an apology, I think.
Why blame her if he was stupid enough to take her advice?
Good question. Especially when it isn't against the law in MA to urge someone to commit suicide. She was convicted under no real law at all IMO. There was no 'there' there. And that's why the judge didn't lock her up until her appeal(s) were heard in higher courts. That alone tells you that he had no confidence that his verdict and sentence would be upheld on appeal.
Why blame her if he was stupid enough to take her advice? Robert,you are a shrink and don't understand the difference between being stupid and being mentally unbalanced? In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
Or maybe it tells you he has complete confidence his sentence will be upheld,so he isn't worried about an appeal. In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
He set aside the sentence pending appeal. That means something. Except to contrarian dumbasses.
The girl in quesion was not a shrink. Does this ruling mean we must all call in a panel of headshrinkers to evaluate someone before saying something unpleasant to somebody? That's where this ruling is taking us.
Except to contrarian dumbasses. Don't worry about it. The rest of us will continue to tolerate you,anyway. In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
I hadn't considered that,but I am positive you are right. The shrink lobby group will spot that as another source of perpetual income,and be all over it. In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
She was never present in person at the suicide. She talked to him on the phone briefly and sent some text messages. If she had been present, I could see where they might get her on some kind of good Samaritan law, where you are obligated to try to save the live of a person in distress or bent on self-harm and irresponsible. They convicted her of being present virtually through a cell phone. And that should disturb anyone.
Her presence would disturb me.
Not only that, but the lawyers will be coaching their clients on feining emotional destress and will make milions off it. There will be a erosion of law and a new class of victimhood to be addressed.
She does give off that Angel of Death vibe.
No. Her presence would disturb me ... in a good way.
You misunderstand the Good Samaritan Law. It exists so that the typical citizen on a scene where someone is seriously injured can try to help that person survive without worrying about being sued for nonsense like "practicing medicine without a license" No law can compel anyone to risk their lives or livelihood to save someone else. In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
Unfortunately,that is the world we live in today. In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
A man on a mission. Like Ben Stiller in There's Something About Mary.
Certainly an exercise in brisk workmanlike efficiency. You must be quite experienced.
Carter's father, David, urged for leniency and no jail time. "She will forever live with what she has done and I know will be a better person because of it," he wrote in a letter to the judge.
#2. To: sneakypete (#1)
(Edited)
I see her active prison sentence as a GOOD thing because if she had gotten off with a slap on the wrist...
#3. To: Tooconservative (#0)
#4. To: misterwhite (#3)
(Edited)
A guy is on top of a building, threatening to jump. The crowd below is chanting, "Jimp! Jump! Jump!" Should they all get 15 months in prison if he does?
If I posted ESAD and you did, am I going to prison, too?
#5. To: Tooconservative (#2)
Do you really want to prosecute people every time someone says, "Oh, just kill yourself already!"?
#6. To: misterwhite (#3)
A guy is on top of a building, threatening to jump. The crowd below is chanting, "Jimp! Jump! Jump!" Should they all get 15 months in prison if he does?
#7. To: Tooconservative (#0)
#8. To: misterwhite (#7)
I'd hit it. She a little Olivia Wilde-ish.
#9. To: sneakypete (#6)
Was everybody in the crowd his girlfriend?
#10. To: Tooconservative (#9)
They met a few years earlier while both were on vacation in Florida. They had hardly any contact after that other than texting and online stuff. I'm not sure she ever saw him in person again after the Florida meeting.
#11. To: misterwhite, sneakypete (#7)
I'd hit it. She a little Olivia Wilde-ish.
#12. To: sneakypete (#10)
Ok,I didn't know that. I had heard her identified as being his girlfriend.
#13. To: Tooconservative (#4)
Yep, haul 'em all off to the FEMA death camp in Hardin, Montana.
#14. To: Tooconservative (#11)
So now we've advanced from debating justice and the law and reached the I'd-fuck-that portion of our program...
#15. To: misterwhite (#13)
Dangerous precedent, especially if the federal governent decides it's a good idea.
#16. To: misterwhite (#14)
Sorry ... I just thought ... you know ...
#17. To: Tooconservative (#15)
I've been waiting for some idiot congresscritter to file a bill named "Conrad's Law".
#18. To: misterwhite, sneakypete (#17)
Bullying, on the other hand, does. Isn't Melania working on that? When it happens, I predict they'll call it "Melania's Law"
#19. To: Tooconservative (#0)
Defendant who texted teen to commit suicide sentenced to 15 months in jail
#20. To: rlk (#19)
#21. To: rlk (#19)
Defendant who texted teen to commit suicide sentenced to 15 months in jail
#22. To: Tooconservative (#20)
She was convicted under no real law at all IMO. There was no 'there' there. And that's why the judge didn't lock her up until her appeal(s) were heard in higher courts. That alone tells you that he had no confidence that his verdict and sentence would be upheld on appeal.
#23. To: sneakypete (#22)
#24. To: sneakypete (#21)
Robert,you are a shrink and don't understand the difference between being stupid and being mentally unbalanced?
#25. To: Tooconservative (#23)
He set aside the sentence pending appeal. That means something.
#26. To: rlk (#24)
The girl in quesion was not a shrink. Does this ruling mean we must all call in a panel of headshrinkers to evaluate someone before saying something unpleasant to somebody? That's where this ruling is taking us.
#27. To: rlk, sneakypete (#24)
Does this ruling mean we must all call in a panel of headshrinkers to evaluate someone before saying something unpleasant to somebody? That's where this ruling is taking us.
#28. To: Tooconservative (#27)
They convicted her of being present virtually through a cell phone. And that should disturb anyone.
#29. To: sneakypete (#26)
(Edited)
I hadn't considered that,but I am positive you are right. The shrink lobby group will spot that as another source of perpetual income,and be all over it.
#30. To: misterwhite (#28)
Her presence would disturb me.
#31. To: Tooconservative (#30)
She does give off that Angel of Death vibe.
#32. To: Tooconservative (#27)
If she had been present, I could see where they might get her on some kind of good Samaritan law, where you are obligated to try to save the live of a person in distress or bent on self-harm and irresponsible.
#33. To: rlk (#29)
Not only that, but the lawyers will be coaching their clients on feining emotional destress and will make milions off it. There will be a erosion of law and a new class of victimhood to be addressed.
#34. To: Tooconservative (#18)
You were back in only 9 minutes, 20 seconds. Very timely.
#35. To: misterwhite (#34)
#36. To: Tooconservative (#35)
Certainly an exercise in brisk workmanlike efficiency.
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