NZ Herald 20 October 2016 Family First Comment: Shocking!
Reports the Davidson father who is believed to have killed his wife, two children and himself contacted a euthanasia group founded by Australian Philip Nitschke on how to use carbon monoxide to commit suicide has since been refuted.
Dr Nitschke initially told the Australian newspaper the Manrique-Lutz family “had some contact” with his Exit International organisation and had accessed an e-handbook which detailed how to use the deadly, odourless gas.
“I didn’t talk to them personally but they had access to the book (The Peaceful Pill),” Mr Nitschke reportedly told the newspaper.
“They knew about carbon monoxide. But it wasn’t the case that they were coming for a meeting. Parents sometimes get taken to extreme levels of stress, and it’s hard to be critical. It’s easy for us to sit here and say we are critical.”
However, Nitschke later clarified his comment, saying that after checking the database, Manrique had not downloaded the book.
“Fernando Manrique did not access our book,” he told Fairfax.
Police have been unable to say if Fernando Manrique, 44, who was seen by neighbours rigging up pipes to the home over the weekend, gassed his wife Maria Claudia Lutz, and their children Elisa, 11, and Martin, 10, using carbon monoxide with her knowledge.
