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4/5/99, 3:01 pmcdt
Kevorkian guilty of murder
A note from Diane Coleman
Sentencing is next
NDYers!
Kevorkian's murder conviction, after 9 long and deadly years for our minority group, will stand as a major victory in disability rights history.
Congratulations to all who have worked so hard to make this victory possible. We all owe a great debt to those who held vigil inside, and protested outside, the four day trial (and extra appreciation to Rochester folks for coming a long way on the spur of the moment to help replenish our numbers when others had to return home).
On Monday afternoon, NPR's Talk of the Nation will hold a call-in show about the Kevorkian trial. I am scheduled to be included in the discussion, which I believe begins at 3 pm EST (check your local NPR station to be sure). Call- ins from NDYers would be very helpful. One type of message that is especially strong is the story of the many who have wanted to die at one time or another, who are glad to be alive now, and who know they would not have survived if assisted suicide and euthanasia were legal.
In the meantime, let's celebrate our victory, then prepare for the next step---sentencing. Currently scheduled for April 14, but likely to change, we will be holding a memorial service (in the style of an AIDS quilt ceremony) for the 66 Kevorkian killings (out of 93 specifically identified victims---the other 40+ are unknown) that robbed people with non- terminal disabilities of their lives. We need to be there---in even stronger numbers than at the trial----so that our victory is not turned into a hollow symbol. He must be taken into custody that day, and sentenced for enough years that he doesn't get out---at least until he is too weak to kill again. Watch for more details of this memorial service and sentencing vigil.
Finally, justice is within our grasp.
Diane Coleman
Some major events in Dr. Jack Kevorkian's assisted suicide campaign:
June 4, 1990 -- Janet Adkins, 54, of Portland, Ore., becomes the first person to use a suicide machine developed by Kevorkian. Murder charges against him are dropped when a judge rules Oregon has no law against assisted suicide.
November 1991 -- Michigan suspends Kevorkian's medical license.
May 2, 1994 -- Kevorkian acquitted of assisted suicide.
March 8, 1996 -- Kevorkian acquitted of two assisted suicides.
May 14, 1996 -- Kevorkian acquitted of two assisted suicides. A judge had dismissed murder charges against him in the same deaths.
June 1997 -- Kevorkian accused of assisted suicide. Judge declares a mistrial.
Sept. 17, 1998 -- Kevorkian videotapes the injection death of Thomas Youk, shown two months later on CBS' ``60 Minutes.''
Nov. 25, 1998 -- Kevorkian charged with murder, assisted suicide and delivery of a controlled substance in Youk's death. Assisted suicide charge later dropped.
March 26, 1999 -- Kevorkian convicted of second-degree murder and delivery of a controlled substance. He faces up to life in prison.
The Memphis Center for Independent Living
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