Vic: Man to stand trial after surviving suicide pact

AAP General News (Australia)
04-21-2008
Vic: Man to stand trial after surviving suicide pact

By Melissa Iaria

MELBOURNE, April 21 AAP - A Melbourne man who entered into a suicide pact with his
girlfriend and survived will stand trial charged with helping her to die.

Douglas Lawrence Flavell, 63, was today ordered by Magistrate Elizabeth Lambden to
stand trial on a charge of aiding Everlyn Targosz, 44, to commit suicide.

Flavell, of Braybrook in Melbourne's west, and Targosz, of Footscray, had been dating
for two years when they went ahead with their plan at Sunshine on November 26, 2005.

Witness statements tendered in court reveal the pair filled up their car with petrol,
bought a plastic hose at Bunnings and cheeseburgers from McDonald's before executing their
plan.

Flavell told police he drove the pair to a remote spot the next morning where Targosz
hooked up the hose to the car exhaust.

He said he got out of the car and stood by a fence while Targosz remained and eventually died.

Flavell then drove with her body in the back seat of the car to his former de facto's
house to tell her Targosz had died.

He then drove to a friend's house, where an ambulance was called.

Flavell said he had tried to talk Targosz out of suicide many times, including on the
day of the event, but she would not listen.

"He said it was mainly Everlyn's decision to end their lives and he just went along
with it," forensic medical officer Edward Morgan said in his statement.

"He said he felt bad about her dying and feels he would have been better off dying as well.

"He was ambivalent about his own future without her."

Flavell was an alcoholic who wrongly believed he had stomach cancer, while Targosz
had schizophrenia, the court was told.

Dr Morgan said in his statement Flavell and Targosz had tried to take their lives several
times before.

Evelyn became depressed after losing her house, while he wanted to die after wrongly
believing he had stomach cancer despite not having any tests.

In a suicide note to her children, Evelyn wrote: "I will always love you's (sic) all
and I am happy now".

Dr Morgan said Flavell was fit to be interviewed by police over the death, but added
he was concerned he was a future suicide risk particularly as he had lost his main social
support.

After his police interview Flavell was admitted as an involuntary patient at a Werribee
psychiatric facility for three weeks.

Ms Lambden ordered Flavell stand trial and bailed him to appear at the County Court
for a case conference on June 30.

He has reserved his plea.



* Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline
on 13 11 14 or SANE Helpline on 1800 18 SANE (7263).

AAP mi/goc/mn

KEYWORD: FLAVELL

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.