A teenage girl will stand trial on manslaughter charges relating to the suicide of her boyfriend after she allegedly sent him dozens of text messages urging him to “stop thinking about it and just do it”.
Michelle Carter, now 19, is facing manslaughter charges in New Bedford Juvenile Court over the June 2014 suicide of Conrad Roy, 18.
Text messages released by the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office allegedly show a then 17-year-old Carter coaxing Roy to end his life, quoting her as telling him he would be “free” and “happy” once he was dead.
When Roy falters in his decision to end his life, Carter allegedly pushes harder, saying: “You kept pushing it off and you say you’ll do it, but you never do … You’re just making it harder on yourself by pushing it off. You just have to do it. Do you want to do it now?”
Conrad Roy
Carter also allegedly promised to look after Roy’s parents after his death, and helped him devise the method of his death, even allegedly searching the internet for the “best way” to die.
Carter’s lawyers told the court she was “brainwashed” by Roy into believing suicide was his only option.
She later wrote in a text message to another friends that she could have prevented Roy’s suicide if she wanted to, leading to the manslaughter charges.
Carter’s lawyers are arguing words alone are not enough to amount to manslaughter.
“I have not seen any case in Massachusetts where somebody was charged with manslaughter based on words alone,” Ms Carter’s appeal attorney Dana Curhan told The Washington Post.
A trial date is yet to be set. If found guilty, Carter could face up to 20 years in prison.
Anyone struggling with depression, stress or mental health problems can visit Lifeline or call 0800 543 354.
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