Live Suicides: Budd Dwyer

[Alpha]

As for as i know there has been two live TV suicides, one from a News woman called Christine Chubbuck and another from a politician called Robert 'Budd' Dwyer.
Mr Dwyer was found guilty of taking bribes and if sentenced he would have recieved 55 years in jail.
On the day of his suicide he called conference and published a statement saying that he would never resign. Here it is in full:

I thank the good Lord for giving me 47 years of exciting challenges, stimulating experiences, many happy occasions, and, most of all, the finest wife and children any man could ever desire.

Now my life has changed, for no apparent reason. People who call and write are exasperated and feel helpless. They know I'm innocent and want to help. But in this nation, the world's greatest democracy, there is nothing they can do to prevent me from being punished for a crime they know I did not commit. Some who have called have said that I am a modern day Job.

Judge [Malcolm] Muir is also noted for his medieval sentences. I face a maximum sentence of 55 years in prison and a $300,000 fine for being innocent. Judge Muir has already told the press that he, quote, "felt invigorated" when we were found guilty, and that he plans to imprison me as a deterrent to other public officials. But it wouldn't be a deterrent because every public official who knows me knows that I am innocent; it wouldn't be a legitimate punishment because I've done nothing wrong. Since I'm a victim of political persecution, my prison would simply be an American gulag.

I ask those that believe in me to continue to extend friendship and prayer to my family, to work untiringly for the creation of a true justice system here in the United States, and to press on with the efforts to vindicate me, so that my family and their future families are not tainted by this injustice that has been perpetrated on me.

We were confident that right and truth would prevail, and I would be acquitted and we would devote the rest of our lives working to create a justice system here in the United States. The guilty verdict has strengthened that resolve. But as we've discussed our plans to expose the warts of our legal system, people have said: "Why bother?" "No one cares." "You'll look foolish." "60 Minutes, 20/20, the American Civil Liberties Union, Jack Anderson and others have been publicizing cases like yours for years, and it doesn't bother anyone."

After that he handed over three envelopes, which contained a suicide note to his wife, a donar card and a letter to the new governer. With that all done he promptly pulled out a .357 Magnum, warned people to stay away because they could get hurt and then shot himself in the gob.

If you are of a nervous disposition, please don't click.
Bud Dwyer

http://www.morningstarr.co.uk/forum/...elevision.html

[Zombie Mastermind]

I've seen it before.

Not watching it again thanks, the image stayed with me for quite a while after.

Grim.

[Alpha]

Yeah, it's yucky.

[timey]

He probably felt that he had no other choice.

[timey]

Yeah, it's yucky.

It's not the worst I have seen. He killed himself. I have seen ones where innocent people have been killed by others and that is much worse.

[Zombie Mastermind]

I think the reason it got to me so much is that it's not like in the movies.

[Ck]

I've seen this before, on faces on death video. I didn't know all that background to it though.

[Gemo52]

It's not the worst I have seen. He killed himself. I have seen ones where innocent people have been killed by others and that is much worse.

I saw one where someone is beheaded.

[timey]

I saw one where someone is beheaded.

Me too, and another one where someone was being shot. It's just weird to realise it's real.

With this case, as I said, he killed himself, but that's not to say it's not horrifying. I'm not squeamish about it, more morbid really. I can't help dwelling on what it must be like knowing you are going to kill yourself in the next few seconds, then pulling the trigger, then being dead, i.e. nothingness. It's a weird concept and I can't get my head round it really.

[Zombie Mastermind]

Happy New Year!