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Nitschke backs man's choice to die

Australian euthanasia advocate Philip Nitschke says he supports the suicide of a 45-year-old Perth man who feared he would be charged with his wife's murder.

Nigel Brayley took his own life in May, three years after his wife Lina, 37, was found dead at the bottom of a quarry in Gooseberry Hill.

He remarried two years later.

Police have treated Mrs Brayley's death as a suspected homicide since October.

Dr Nitschke said he spoke to Mr Brayley at an Exit International workshop in Perth.

Mr Brayley bought the assisted suicide guide The Peacefull Pill eHandbook at the workshop.

Mr Brayley was not terminally ill and he did not meet Exit's minimum workshop age of 50, but Dr Nitschke made an exception.

Dr Nitschke said he knew Mr Brayley had illegally imported a euthanasia drug.

However, he had not known about the murder investigation until after his death. Mr Brayley sent him an email in the weeks before he took his own life, saying he was not prepared to risk his "family's financial security and happiness by continuing".

Dr Nitschke said he supported Mr Brayley's right to take his own life in the face of possible prosecution, describing it as "a good example of a rational decision".

"We should allow people that have been incarcerated for long periods to have the option of being able to end their own lives," he said.

Dr Nitschke said the decision to live or die should be made by the individual.

If you or someone you know is thinking of suicide, phone Lifeline on 13 11 14