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Woman, 81, spoke to undercover agent about animal euthanasia drugs to kill people, court hears Woman, 81, spoke to undercover agent about animal euthanasia drugs to kill people, court hears
(32 minutes later)
Coroner ordered police investigation after post-mortem of Gold Coast man revealed lethal dose of animal life-ending drug pentobarbitone Coroner ordered police investigation after postmortem of Gold Coast man revealed lethal dose of animal life-ending drug pentobarbitone
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An 81-year-old woman accused of supporting a dodgy euthanasia service that provided a Gold Coast victim with a life-ending veterinary drug has been released from police custody.An 81-year-old woman accused of supporting a dodgy euthanasia service that provided a Gold Coast victim with a life-ending veterinary drug has been released from police custody.
Elaine Arch-Rowe was one of three people – including a father and son – charged over a police probe into the alleged assisted suicide of a Gold Coast man, with about 20 other deaths being investigated.Elaine Arch-Rowe was one of three people – including a father and son – charged over a police probe into the alleged assisted suicide of a Gold Coast man, with about 20 other deaths being investigated.
Arch-Rowe is accused of assisting Brett Daniel Taylor, 53, with his end-of-life business which allegedly provided the victim with a veterinary euthanasia drug sourced under false pretences via a whale charity.Arch-Rowe is accused of assisting Brett Daniel Taylor, 53, with his end-of-life business which allegedly provided the victim with a veterinary euthanasia drug sourced under false pretences via a whale charity.
The other co-accused is Taylor’s 80-year-old father, police said.The other co-accused is Taylor’s 80-year-old father, police said.
Arch-Rowe – a long-time supporter of Philip Nitschke’s pro-euthanasia group – was on Tuesday released from the Southport watch house after being granted bail despite opposition from the prosecution. Arch-Rowe – a longtime supporter of Philip Nitschke’s pro-euthanasia group – was on Tuesday released from the Southport watch house after being granted bail despite opposition from the prosecution.
The police prosecutor Casey-Lee Beck told Southport magistrates court there were recorded conversations between Arch-Rowe and an undercover operative about allegedly supplying animal euthanasia drugs to kill people.The police prosecutor Casey-Lee Beck told Southport magistrates court there were recorded conversations between Arch-Rowe and an undercover operative about allegedly supplying animal euthanasia drugs to kill people.
A coroner ordered a police investigation after a post-mortem of the Gold Coast man who died in April revealed a lethal dose of pentobarbitone, a life-ending drug for animals, as his cause of death. Sign up: AU Breaking News email
A coroner ordered a police investigation after a postmortem of the Gold Coast man who died in April revealed a lethal dose of pentobarbitone, a life-ending drug for animals, as his cause of death.
The drug is tightly controlled in Queensland and police charged the trio after an extensive probe into the man’s health record and medical treatment.The drug is tightly controlled in Queensland and police charged the trio after an extensive probe into the man’s health record and medical treatment.
The police investigation has been widened to include other deaths dating back to 2021, with “around or greater than 20” to be probed.The police investigation has been widened to include other deaths dating back to 2021, with “around or greater than 20” to be probed.
Taylor has been accused of sourcing the euthanasia drug “under false pretences” by setting up beached whale euthanasia charity Cetacean Compassion Australia Ltd and accessing it through a lawful supplier.Taylor has been accused of sourcing the euthanasia drug “under false pretences” by setting up beached whale euthanasia charity Cetacean Compassion Australia Ltd and accessing it through a lawful supplier.
Arch-Rowe on Tuesday sat in the dock wearing a light blue jail-issue shirt, occasionally wiping her eyes with her sleeve.Arch-Rowe on Tuesday sat in the dock wearing a light blue jail-issue shirt, occasionally wiping her eyes with her sleeve.
She applied for bail on charges of aiding suicide, possessing and trafficking dangerous drugs and sale of potentially harmful things.She applied for bail on charges of aiding suicide, possessing and trafficking dangerous drugs and sale of potentially harmful things.
The police prosecutor told the magistrate Deborah Mitchell the first charge had been amended to attempt to aid in the suicide of a woman working undercover for police. The police prosecutor told the magistrate, Deborah Mitchell, the first charge had been amended to attempt to aid in the suicide of a woman working undercover for police.
Mitchell heard Arch-Rowe had told co-accused Taylor by phone she “always tried to give people knowledge to access end-of-life products that will work”.Mitchell heard Arch-Rowe had told co-accused Taylor by phone she “always tried to give people knowledge to access end-of-life products that will work”.
Police also accused Arch-Rowe of discussing how to obtain two types of fatal drug and how “to get access to the product from the manufacturer we need to give a large percentage to be used legitimately”.Police also accused Arch-Rowe of discussing how to obtain two types of fatal drug and how “to get access to the product from the manufacturer we need to give a large percentage to be used legitimately”.
Arch-Rowe’s lawyer Michael McMillan told Mitchell it sounded like evidence only of drug supply. Arch-Rowe’s lawyer, Michael McMillan, told Mitchell it sounded like evidence only of drug supply.
“There’s nothing there about killing people,” he said.“There’s nothing there about killing people,” he said.
Arch-Rowe had no criminal record and had strong links to her local community, he said.Arch-Rowe had no criminal record and had strong links to her local community, he said.
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Mitchell said she could not describe the prosecution case against Arch-Rowe as weak.Mitchell said she could not describe the prosecution case against Arch-Rowe as weak.
But she said Arch-Rowe was facing the possibility of spending more time on remand than any sentence she would likely receive if found guilty, before granting bail.But she said Arch-Rowe was facing the possibility of spending more time on remand than any sentence she would likely receive if found guilty, before granting bail.
McMillan said his client would plead not guilty.McMillan said his client would plead not guilty.
“The case against her for aiding suicide was very weak,” he said outside court.“The case against her for aiding suicide was very weak,” he said outside court.
“[The prosecution] can’t demonstrate when she was engaged in conversations with the undercover operative, that the operative said at any stage ‘I’m intending to kill myself and I want you to supply these drugs’.”“[The prosecution] can’t demonstrate when she was engaged in conversations with the undercover operative, that the operative said at any stage ‘I’m intending to kill myself and I want you to supply these drugs’.”
McMillan was asked by media about his client’s lengthy involvement in Exit International, Mr Nitschke’s pro-euthanasia group that has faced multiple prior police investigations. McMillan was asked by media about his client’s lengthy involvement in Exit International, Nitschke’s pro-euthanasia group that has faced multiple prior police investigations.
“Plenty of people have these views,” he said.“Plenty of people have these views,” he said.
Dr Nitschke is not accused of any wrongdoing in this case. Nitschke is not accused of any wrongdoing in this case.
Arch-Rowe was banned from contacting the two co-accused and from possessing illegal assisted suicide drugs or participating in Exit International.Arch-Rowe was banned from contacting the two co-accused and from possessing illegal assisted suicide drugs or participating in Exit International.
Her case will return to court on 17 October with Taylor due to reappear on Thursday.Her case will return to court on 17 October with Taylor due to reappear on Thursday.