Dutch euthanasia minister found dead in garage ‘likely killed’
Police begin murder investigation into the death of a Dutch politician credited with drafting the country’s euthanasia laws
By Bruno Waterfield
1:29PM GMT 13 Feb 2014
Dutch police have opened a murder investigation into the death of a former health minister who was the architect of euthanasia legislation when the Netherlands became the worldメs first country to permit mercy killing a decade ago.
Els Borst, 81, a leading liberal politician was found dead in her garage on Monday evening by two neighbours, two days after attending a convention of her political party, the right-of-centre Democrats 66.
“Last night after we examined all traces, forensic research and medical information, we concluded that an accident is unlikely and that there is a criminal offence,” said Willem Woelders, the deputy chief
Dr Borst, a trained medical doctor who twice served as deputy prime minister, drafted legislation that gave people suffering from terminal or other incurable illnesses the right to elect for medically supervised assisted suicide.