State Supreme Court To Hear Assisted Suicide Case

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The state's highest court has agreed to hear the appeal of a former nurse whw was convicted of searching out suicidal people in online chat rooms and encouraging them to kill themselves.

William Melchert-Dinkel of Faribault was convicted in 2011. He argues he was merely practicing "free speech." The Minnesota Supreme Court will review his appeal, but it hasn't set a date.

Melchert-Dinkel was convicted in the deaths of a 32-year-old man from England and an 18-year-old student from Ontario. He faces about a year in jail unless his conviction is overturned.