Euthanasia rallyist Crick kills herself

‘‘The friends and relatives who were present at her death last night must face some reasonable prospect of being put before a judge and jury,’’ O’Gorman said. There was no indication yet how Crick had ended her life.

In 1996, Australia’s outback northern territory introduced the world’s first voluntary euthanasia laws. Four people used them to die by lethal injection before the national government overturned the legislation in 1997.

The Australian media said Crick, 70, who suffered from bowel cancer, died surrounded by 21 family members and friends. Police said that they had been advised of Crick’s death and that normal police procedures were being followed. On February 6, Crick began an Internet diary (www.protection.net.au/nancycrick/), calling for voluntary euthanasia laws and chronicling her life and suffering.