Dad didn't seek Exit advice: Nitschke

Euthanasia campaigner Philip Nitschke doesn't believe the father of a family found dead in their Sydney home sought advice from Exit International

Euthanasia campaigner Philip Nitschke now believes the father of a Sydney family of found dead in their home did not contact his organisation, Exit International.

The bodies of Fernando Manrique, 44, Maria Lutz, 43, and their autistic children, 11-year-old Elisa and 10-year-old Martin, were found in their home in Davidson on Monday.

Dr Nitschke says a man by the name of Manrique from Sydney had contacted him about purchasing his euthanasia book.

"(It was) a person of that surname but it was a different Christian name (that) made contact trying to acquire the book," Dr Nitschke told 2GB Radio on Thursday.

Dr Nitschke had earlier told The Australian the dead Sydney father had a digital version of his book.

"When I was first contacted I was away from the database and I said 'yes we had had contact with a person of that name'," Dr Nitschke said.

"The information we have suggests strongly that this was a different person of the same names."

While he conceded the deaths of the children was a concern, no one should judge unless they'd walked in someone else's shoes.

"If people for whatever reason make a decision they want to end their lives, that's a decision they make themselves," he said.

"It's a tragedy no matter how you look at it."

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.


Share

2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world