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Amy Forliti, Associated Press
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)

Appeals court hears ex-nurse's aiding suicide case

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William Melchert-Dinkel
William Melchert-Dinkel, center, leaves the Rice County Courthouse with his attorney Terry Watkins, right, and wife, Joyce Melchert-Dinkel, after waiving his right to a jury trial Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011, in Faribault, Minn. The attorney for the ex-nurse found guilty of encouraging the suicides of a Canadian woman and a British man is asking the Minnesota Court of Appeals to overturn his conviction of aiding the suicides on free speech grounds.
AP Photo/Robb Long

The attorney for an ex-nurse who encouraged two depressed people to commit suicide told a Minnesota appellate court that the man's conviction should be overturned on free-speech grounds.

William Melchert-Dinkel was convicted last year of aiding the suicides of a British man and a Canadian woman. He was sentenced to 360 days in jail.

Melchert-Dinkel admitted going online and giving the victims advice on how to hang themselves.

His attorney, Terry Watkins, told the judges Wednesday that his client has what he called a "disgusting" desire to watch people hang themselves. But Watkins said Melchert-Dinkel did nothing more than give emotional support to the victims.

Assistant Rice County Attorney Benjamin Bejar argued the former nurse had a set method and plan to lure people to commit suicide.

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William Melchert-Dinkel
William Melchert-Dinkel, center, leaves the Rice County Courthouse with his attorney Terry Watkins, right, and wife, Joyce Melchert-Dinkel, after waiving his right to a jury trial Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011, in Faribault, Minn. The attorney for the ex-nurse found guilty of encouraging the suicides of a Canadian woman and a British man is asking the Minnesota Court of Appeals to overturn his conviction of aiding the suicides on free speech grounds.
AP Photo/Robb Long