Girl’s texts led boyfriend to commit suicide

A JUDGE in Massachusetts has found a young woman guilty of manslaughter after she sent her boyfriend dozens of text messages encouraging him to kill himself.

Judge Lawrence Moniz said Michelle Carter caused the death of her 18-yearold boyfriend, Conrad Roy III, who was found dead of carbon monoxide poisoning in his truck in 2014.

Prosecutors said the then 17-year-old Carter badgered Roy by text to act on his suicidal thoughts. “I thought you wanted to do this. The time is right and you’re ready, you just need to do it!” Carter wrote in one message.

Prosecutors also said she told Roy to “get back in” his truck after he became frightened and got out.

Carter’s lawyer says she tried to talk Roy out of suicide for months, but he was determined to kill himself.

“Instructing Mr Roy to ‘get back in’ the truck constitutes wanton and reckless conduct by Ms Carter,” the judge said.

Carter could face up to 20 years in prison. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Aug 3.