Minnesota v. Final Exit Network - Assisted Suicide Case Resumes

The Minnesota assisted suicide case against the Final Exit Network begins again at 9:00 a.m. on September 8, 2014, in the Dakota County Judicial Center in Hastings. 



In June 2014, the Supreme Court of Minnesota denied the State's petition for review of the Court of Appeal's September 30, 2013 decision in favor of FEN.  The Supreme Court also dissolved the stay of proceedings in the trial court, which has been in effect since March, 2013.  



The case now resumes in the trial court as if the defendants faced a new indictment.  Instead of being charged primarily under a statute that prohibits "advising, encouraging, or assisting in a suicide," the new indictment charges them only with "assisting in a suicide."  



Final Exit Network, Inc, and Larry Egbert are each charged with assisting in a suicide, aiding and abetting to assist in a suicide, interfering in a death scene, and aiding and abetting to interfere in a death scene.  Roberta Massey is charged only with aiding and abetting to assist in a death scene.



At the September 8 hearing, the judge will set a trial date, discuss pending motions, decide whether any additional pretrial hearings are necessary and, if so, schedule them.