Marielle Houle
Encyclopedia
Marielle Houle is a Canadian woman who helped her ailing son Charles Fariala commit suicide in September 2004 as he struggled with the early stages of multiple sclerosis
.
After he had stopped breathing, she called police and confessed to her part in his death.
. By the decision of Quebec Superior Court
, she was spared jail time and sentenced to three years of probation
on 27 January 2006. Justice Maurice Laramée motivated his sentence
by the emotional, psychological (borderline personality) and physical fragility of the accused. He insisted that the sentence is not set to serve as a general model in other cases and warned other who might consider emulating Houle that assisted suicide and mercy killing remain serious crime in Canada for which the law has no tolerance.
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
.
The suicide
On 25 September 2004, Fariala summoned his mother to his home to complete the death pact he had researched and refined over several months. After thanking her for not abandoning him in his last hours, Fariala consumed a mixture of pills and medication. He lay down in his bed and had Houle restrain his hands with leather cuffs. When he was in a deep slumber, Houle placed a mask over his face and slipped a plastic bag over his head.After he had stopped breathing, she called police and confessed to her part in his death.
The sentence
Houle pleaded guilty to a charge of helping her son commit suicide, thus liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years, under the provision of s. 241(b) of the Criminal Code of CanadaCriminal Code of Canada
The Criminal Code or Code criminel is a law that codifies most criminal offences and procedures in Canada. Its official long title is "An Act respecting the criminal law"...
. By the decision of Quebec Superior Court
Quebec Superior Court
Quebec Superior Court is the highest trial Court in the Province of Quebec, Canada. It consists of 144 judges who are appointed by the federal government.Chief Justices : [partial listing]* Edward Bowen...
, she was spared jail time and sentenced to three years of probation
Probation
Probation literally means testing of behaviour or abilities. In a legal sense, an offender on probation is ordered to follow certain conditions set forth by the court, often under the supervision of a probation officer...
on 27 January 2006. Justice Maurice Laramée motivated his sentence
Sentence (law)
In law, a sentence forms the final explicit act of a judge-ruled process, and also the symbolic principal act connected to his function. The sentence can generally involve a decree of imprisonment, a fine and/or other punishments against a defendant convicted of a crime...
by the emotional, psychological (borderline personality) and physical fragility of the accused. He insisted that the sentence is not set to serve as a general model in other cases and warned other who might consider emulating Houle that assisted suicide and mercy killing remain serious crime in Canada for which the law has no tolerance.