Often when a person is considering committing suicide, they do not discuss their plans. However, one teen chose to share his plans with his girlfriend, and now she is facing Manslaughter charges. According to the news report, the girlfriend not only knew about her boyfriend’s plan to kill himself, she actually encouraged him. The prosecution is using text messages between the two to prove the girl had coerced him into committing suicide. The girl has apparently texted her friend explaining that she felt responsible because she told him to get back in his car after he felt the carbon monoxide affecting him. She also told the friend she was on the phone with him the entire time and stayed on until she knew he was dead. There were many previous text conversations between the girl and her boyfriend where he was having second thoughts and she was encouraging him to follow through. But, do those actions actually constitute Manslaughter? Let’s look Colorado’s statute.
Do Texts Lead to Manslaughter in Weld County?
Manslaughter – C.R.S. 18-3-104 – Our Colorado definition:
(a) Such person recklessly causes the death of another person; or
(b) Such person intentionally causes or aids another person to commit suicide.
In looking at part b of the definition, the District Attorney would probably argue that the girl’s text messages helped or caused her boyfriend to commit suicide. Her encouragement could be seen as aiding. In defense of the girl, her attorneys are arguing that the texts were not encouraging at all. They reason that these texts are probing for information and should be protected free speech. As in all criminal jury trials, it will be up to the jury to decide.
Have you been charged with Manslaughter? Contact the experienced criminal defense lawyers from the O’Malley Law Office to defend you today!
Have you been charged with Manslaughter? Contact the experienced criminal defense lawyers from the O’Malley Law Office to defend you today!
As a class 4 felony in Weld, Morgan, and Logan County, Manslaughter is punishable by 2 to 6 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections and up to $500,000 in fines. It’s hard to face such a sentence after already losing a person. In our experience, these charges often result from an accident. The family of the young man and the government want to hold someone responsible, even though the death was the result of a decisions made by the young man.
If you or someone you love has been charged with Manslaughter, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best criminal defense lawyers from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-616-6009 to schedule a free consultation. Together, we can protect your future.
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