Charges Stand Against Teen Accused of Encouraging Friend's Suicide

A judge in Bristol County Juvenile Court will not dismiss an involuntary manslaughter charge against a Plainville teenager accused of convincing a friend to follow through on a plan to kill himself.

A defense attorney for Michelle Carter argued that a text conversation between Carter and Conrad Henri Roy III were protected under the First Amendment and not proof of a crime, the Boston Globe reports.

Judge Bettina Borders rejected the argument, noting that the First Amendment does not protect conduct that threatens another.

Texts between the two were read in an earlier court session. In the exchanges, Carter encourages Roy to take his own life, which he did in July 2015. In the texts, Carter said to Roy, “You can’t think about it. You just have to do it. You said you were gonna do it. Like I don’t get why you aren’t.”

Roy responded: “I don’t get it either. I don’t know.”

Carter: “So I guess you aren’t gonna do it then. All that for nothing. I’m just confused. Like you were so ready and determined.”

Roy: “I am gonna eventually. I really don’t know what I’m waiting for but I have everything lined up.”

Carter: “No, you’re not, Conrad. Last night was it. You kept pushing it off and you say you’ll do it, but you never do. It’s always gonna be that way if you don’t take action. You’re just making it harder on yourself by pushing it off. You just have to do it.”

Carter, now 18, has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Photo Credit: WHDH, 7-News