Indian doctor, who ‘helped’ wife die, found dead

Sham had cut his wife’s wrists and his own wrists, throat and abdomen on November 11 under the pact, local newspaper Newsday reported quoting the police.

He had pleaded guilty to second degree manslaughter and was expected to be given five-year probation after prosecutors determined that no purpose would served by imprisoning the retired radiologist for helping his 69-year-old wife Lucila to kill herself. She had only few weeks to live, the report said.

Lucila had unsuccessfully tried to stab herself to death and Sham helped his wife of 40 years to end her life, it said.

Later, Sham stabbed himself with another knife and the police found him unconscious and Lucila dead. Reports said he too would have died in another 15 minutes if no help had reached.

Newsday said that days after he acknowledged that he helped his wife kill herself, he had gave every indication that he intended to live.

After pleading guilty, Sham ran errands with his attorney. At Whole Foods Market in Manhasset, Sham, a health enthusiast, bought a large amount of bananas, nuts, cranberries, brown bread and other food, attorney James O’Rourke was quoted as saying by the paper. He spoke of moving to California for the warm weather.

“I don’t think he would have been doing this if it was his intention to take his own life,” O’Rourke was quoted as saying. “Obviously, he wanted to be with his wife. This was a journey she was on and he wanted to catch up with her.”