Man Who Killed Father With Terminal Cancer 'Out Of Love' Spared Prison

A 54-year-old man, who shot his terminally-ill father in the head thereby assisting the latter in his suicide, was spared prison after a judge deemed his act "courageous" and done "out of love."

Glenn Stratton from Victoria, Australia, faced the Supreme Court on Thursday while pleading guilty to one count of aiding and abetting his father Colin Stratton's suicide, News.Com reported.

Colin, who was 81, had been suffering from chronic bowel cancer. On May 21, 2021, he approached doctors seeking euthanasia under the voluntary assisted dying program. But when he was told that paperwork would take up to two weeks, Stratton decided he’d do it himself, the court heard.

Colin left the clinic with Glenn and on arrival at home, Colin asked his son to get a .22-calibre rifle and bullet from his shed. Though Glenn protested, he finally agreed when his father said he would do it himself.

He handed over the loaded weapon to his father, but Colin could not do it due to the length of the rifle. "Don’t make me make a bloody mess of it, I can’t do it by myself," Colin told the middle of his three children, the court heard.

Glenn told his father that he loved him. His father replied likewise. He then pulled the trigger. Glenn later told police he had pulled the trigger because his dad was begging him to, ABC News reported. The man said his father had always been there for the family, and he would do anything for him in return.

The elder man and his wife, who died in 2017, had been supporters of voluntary euthanasia and members of the Dying with Dignity organization.

"You tried to dissuade your father but you knew he would follow through," Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth told the court while letting him free. "You were placed in an unenviable position. You pulled the trigger out of love and respect for his wishes. Justice should be tempered by mercy. There is no interest to the community in sending you to prison," she added. Glenn's family is highly supportive of him and his actions.

The judge also put Glenn on a good behavior bond for two years, which requires him to undergo mental health treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Glenn spent 46 days behind bars and missed his father’s funeral after being initially charged with murder.