The euthanasia capsule Sarco is used for the first time in Switzerland.Image: trapezoid
Florian Willett, chairman of the euthanasia group Last Resort, remains in custody. Why is not entirely clear. Now a Dutch newspaper is publishing explosive information.
At the end of September, the controversial Sarco suicide capsule was used for the first time in Switzerland, an incident that continues to raise questions. Florian Willet, chairman of euthanasia group Last Resort, who coordinated the first Sarco operation, remains in custody. The Schaffhausen prosecutor's office is still investigating.
It is unlikely that such a long period of pre-trial detention would be ordered simply because of the alleged “selfish” charge of assisted suicide in the criminal code. Therefore, there is reason to suspect that there are other reasons being investigated. The Dutch newspaper “de Volkskrant”, which has long followed Sarco inventor Philipp Nitschke closely, has now published explosive information: the Schaffhausen prosecutor's office is also apparently investigating a case of intentional homicide.
There is said to be a specific reason for this: Hours after the woman died in Schaffhausen Forest, a forensic scientist told investigators on the phone that the 64-year-old woman had suffered serious neck injuries. We're talking about strangulation marks.
This information only raises more questions: why were the additional suspects not notified, but were simultaneously brought before the responsible judge to prolong pretrial detention? Is it really conceivable that the Sarco capsule did not function as intended and that the imprisoned Florian Willett “helped”? After all, when he was dying, he was alone in the forest with the woman who wanted to die. Two lawyers and a People's Daily photographer who were initially arrested with Willett (and released shortly after) arrived at the scene only after the death occurred.
This theory cannot be ruled out, but it seems unlikely: NZZ quoted a source close to “Last Resort” as saying the deceased suffered from a bone marrow infection known as osteomyelitis. This results in what are called strangulation marks.
According to “de Volkskrant”, there is also a video recording of the death process. Although there was a gap because it only reacted to movements, it did not show any abnormality. Willett did not open the Sarco's lid. The only movement recorded by the camera inside the capsule was due to the woman's body straining as she was already unconscious. It is unlikely that the image has been tampered with.
Dutch journalists suspect that the intentional homicide charge was brought to give the prosecutor's office wider scope to investigate. Among other things, they include obtaining the camera and mobile phone of the newspaper's photographer and the possible extradition of Sarco inventor Philipp Nitschke, who lives in the Netherlands. However, this is also speculation.
At NZZ's request, the responsible Schaffhausen prosecutor did not make a statement, citing the confidentiality of the investigation. It's unclear why Florian Willett remains in custody.
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