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American Sidney Kilmartin posted cyanide to suicidal Briton | American Sidney Kilmartin posted cyanide to suicidal Briton |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A US man has been convicted of posting cyanide to a suicidal man in England, leading to his death. | A US man has been convicted of posting cyanide to a suicidal man in England, leading to his death. |
Sidney Kilmartin, 54, mailed a substance he said was cyanide - but which was actually Epsom salts - to several suicidal people, police said. | Sidney Kilmartin, 54, mailed a substance he said was cyanide - but which was actually Epsom salts - to several suicidal people, police said. |
But he sent the real thing to 49-year-old Andrew Denton, of Hull, who used it to kill himself at his home in December 2012. | |
Prosecutors said Kilmartin wanted to stop Mr Denton reporting the fraud. | Prosecutors said Kilmartin wanted to stop Mr Denton reporting the fraud. |
A federal jury found him guilty on Tuesday of mailing injurious articles resulting in death and witness tampering. | A federal jury found him guilty on Tuesday of mailing injurious articles resulting in death and witness tampering. |
Kilmartin, formerly of Windham, Maine, had earlier pleaded guilty to mail fraud and wire fraud, but denied the more serious charges. | Kilmartin, formerly of Windham, Maine, had earlier pleaded guilty to mail fraud and wire fraud, but denied the more serious charges. |
He was found not guilty of witness retaliation. | He was found not guilty of witness retaliation. |
Kilmartin faces the possibility of life in prison. | Kilmartin faces the possibility of life in prison. |
The trial, which began on 3 October, heard Kilmartin would present himself to suicidal people as an "angel of mercy". | The trial, which began on 3 October, heard Kilmartin would present himself to suicidal people as an "angel of mercy". |
In his opening statement, Assistant US Attorney Halsey Frank, prosecuting, said: "Sidney Kilmartin targeted vulnerable people who were depressed to the point of suicide to take advantage of. | In his opening statement, Assistant US Attorney Halsey Frank, prosecuting, said: "Sidney Kilmartin targeted vulnerable people who were depressed to the point of suicide to take advantage of. |
"When Andrew Denton had the audacity to complain that Mr Kilmartin had defrauded and taken advantage of him, Mr Kilmartin killed him." | "When Andrew Denton had the audacity to complain that Mr Kilmartin had defrauded and taken advantage of him, Mr Kilmartin killed him." |
A court affidavit said Kilmartin obtained the cyanide by posing as a jeweller to persuade a California distributor to ship him 100g of the chemical for $127.56. | A court affidavit said Kilmartin obtained the cyanide by posing as a jeweller to persuade a California distributor to ship him 100g of the chemical for $127.56. |
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