Wellington euthanasia lobbyist, accused of aiding suicide, seeks … – The Dominion Post

MATT STEWART

Last updated13:44, April 24 2017

FAIRFAX NZ

Supporters of Susan Dale Austen outside Wellington District Court in February.

A crowdfunding drive has been launched as part of a global support campaign to defend Exit Wellington co-ordinator Susan Austen in the wake of a new charge of aiding asuicide.

Austen, 66, is a Lower Hutt teacher, who was charged in October2016 with having twice imported the controlled euthanasia drug pentobarbitone.

Austen appeared in the Wellington District Court on Friday facing thenew charge of aidingthe suicide ofAnnemarie Treadwell.

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Supporters of Susan Austen outside Wellington District Court in February.

The charge of alleged aid wasfrom between December 12, 2015, and June 7, 2016.

READ MORE: *Hutt woman Susan Austen faces new charge of aiding a suicide *Wellington womanAnnemarieTreadwell'sdeath trigger for Police euthanasia furore *Susan Austen appears in court facing charges relating to importation of euthanasia drugs *Police admit using checkpoint to target euthanasia meeting attendees *We know where you've been, police tell 76-year-old who attended euthanasia meeting *Police door-knock elderly women who attended euthanasia meeting

Director of pro-voluntary euthanasia group Exit International Philip Nitschke said the move was prompted by the seriousness of the new charge of aiding a suicide, whichhas a maximum penalty of 14 years' jail.

GLENN CAMPBELL

Euthanasia campaigner Philip Nitschke has labelled New Zealand police's Operation Painter a "grubby witch hunt".

With an initial target of $50,000 the campaign had raised more than$6000 for legal fees on Monday morning through a crowdfunding site.

In tandem with fundraising, Nitschke said the World Federation of Right To Die Societies had been approached to help focus attention on New Zealand.

The Independent Police Conduct Commission launched an investigation into complaintspolice useda vehicle checkpoint operation - part of what was codenamed Operation Painter to identify people who had been to an Exit Wellingtonmeeting in early October, 2016.

Nitschke accused this investigation of being a "grubby little anti-Exit witch-hunt."

Nitschke said the seriousness of the new charge made the drug importing charges seem trivial by comparison.

Austen's case was likely to gain international traction as it was a stark example of the endemic harassment of pro-euthanasia supporters by the authorities,Nitschke said.

Pleas are expectedto be entered to all three charges at Austen's next court appearance on May 12.

-Stuff

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Wellington euthanasia lobbyist, accused of aiding suicide, seeks ... - The Dominion Post