Easier on Suicides

The laws that make suicide a crime, in Britain as in some parts of the U.S., go back to the early roots of English jurisprudence. In 967 A.D., King Edgar, with characteristic Christian zeal, decreed that suicides should be denied the rites of the church for violating the Sixth Commandment. Custom, later elevated to law, demanded desecration of the corpse. Until well into the 19th century. British suicides were buried at night, at crossroads, with a stake driven through their bodies. All property of suicides was forfeit to the Crown. By 1900 most of these medieval monstrosities had been repealed. But attempted suicide was still a crime punishable by fine or imprisonment up to two years. And the successful suicide was still denied church rites if he took his life while "of sound mind."

In actual fact, the law has long been largely ignored. Throughout Britain each year. 5.000 people take their lives and another 5.000 attempted suicides are reported to the police. In recent years less than 10% of those who failed have been prosecuted. Last week, with the approval of the Anglican Church and both major parties. Parliament finally declared suicide--or attempting it--no longer a crime. At the same time Parliament added a footnote aimed mainly at survivors of suicide pacts: abetting another's suicide is now punishable by up to 14 years in jail.

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