A Minnesota man who was found guilty of counselling Carleton University student Nadia Kajouji to commit suicide plans to appeal his conviction.
A U.S. judge rejected freedom of speech as a defence for William Melchert-Dinkel, a former nurse who encouraged Kajouji and a British man to take their own lives. He also rejected claims that Melchert-Dinkel's actions didn't help sway his victims to commit suicide.
Prosecutors said Melchert-Dinkel, 48, cruised online chat rooms, posed as a woman and made fake suicide pacts with people he met online, providing them with information on how they could die.
The judge said there was clear evidence that showed Melchert-Dinkel aided Kajouji, 18, when she committed suicide by jumping into Ottawa's Rideau River in 2008.
The ex-nurse was also found guilty of aiding in the suicide of Mark Drybrough, 32, of Coventry, England.
Kajouji's father calls Melchert-Dinkel a monster. He says although the guilty verdict won't bring his daughter back, he's thankful for the ruling.
"I'll thank them from the bottom of my heart because I appreciate everything they did. And Nadia was not forgotten. This man finally got what's coming to him, justice for Nadia and I'm very happy for that," said Mohamed Kajouji.
Kajouji, a teen from Brampton, Ont., jumped into the Rideau River in March 2008. Her body was recovered one month later.
Melchert-Dinkel will be sentenced May 4. His lawyers will then take his case to the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
Melchert-Dinkel faces a maximum penalty of 15 years behind bars and a $30,000 fine.
With files from The Associated Press
