Cadotte found guilty of manslaughter
Michel Cadotte has been found guilty of manslaughter in the death of his wife, Jocelyne Lizotte, whom he smothered with a pillow after years of watching her decline from early-onset Alzheimer’s. Lizotte was only 60 years old but had progressed to a state of total helplessness. Cadotte said he was relieved by the verdict. He will be sentenced next month.
dwgs 13:45 on 2019-02-24 Permalink
Given that the jury was given only two option, manslaughter or second degree murder, I’d say they did the right thing.Hopefully he receives a reasonably light sentence.
Kate 14:28 on 2019-02-24 Permalink
I agree. But the judge may want to draw a line here because of the distinction between formally and informally assisted death. A court case was running in parallel looking at the existing law and its limits, and people are talking about extending the law to allow for advance planning if someone knows they’re facing a condition that will leave them unable to make a competent request as their illness gets worse. Arguably, Lizotte might have done that if the law had allowed for it, and Cadotte decided to take it into his own hands – but he must have known he was putting himself in the wrong, legally, to do so. Remember the Robert Latimer case here too.