Nation IN BRIEF : MICHIGAN : Court Deals Blow to Kevorkian’s Defense

The Michigan Court of Appeals dealt a serious blow to Jack Kevorkian’s defense strategy in his assisted-suicide trial, lessening the burden of proof needed to convict him. Kevorkian has assisted 27 terminally ill patients end their lives since 1990. The appellate court ruled that Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Jessica Cooper gave erroneous instructions to jurors when the trial started. Cooper said that prosecutors needed to prove that Kevorkian solely intended to cause death when he assisted in the suicides. The appeals court said prosecutors only need to prove that Kevorkian provided the physical means or participated in the physical act of another person’s suicide.