Prosecutions in England and Wales under s 2(1) Suicide Act 1961 are rare; but the crime remains on the statute book. On Monday the Crown Prosecution Service announced that a woman called Milly Caller had been charged under s 2(1). Emma Crossman died on 15 January 2014 having taken her own life using equipment that had allegedly been bought for her by Ms Caller. In a statement, Rosemary Ainslie of the CPS said this:

“In July 2014 the CPS received a file concerning allegations in relation to the actions of Milly Caller, 22, from Sleaford, in the suicide of Emma Crossman, a 21 year old woman from Lincolnshire. Having carefully reviewed the evidence in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, the CPS has decided that there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction, and that a prosecution is in the public interest. Continue reading →