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Thu, 18 Jan 2001 10:06:37 EST |
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Canada court rules out leniency for "mercy killer"
OTTAWA, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Canada's Supreme Court on Thursday ruled out
leniency for so-called "mercy killing," denying an appeal by a man who had
been convicted of murdering his handicapped daughter.
The country's highest court, rejecting the arguments of Robert Latimer that
he asphyxiated his 12-year-old daughter Tracy in 1993 out of love and
necessity, declined to create a new category of compassionate homicide.
The court upheld the legal requirement for second-degree murder of a life
sentence with no parole for 10 years. Latimer, who been free on bail on his
Saskatchewan farm, will now go back to jail.
The debate over involuntary euthanasia has pitted arguments by Latimer that
Tracy suffered from severe pain against those of disabled groups outraged
that a lower standard of justice should apply to offenses against handicapped
people.
09:52 01-18-01
Copyright 2001 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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