Judge to decide fate of woman in text message suicide trial

TAUNTON, Mass. — The fate of a Plainville woman accused of encouraging her then-boyfriend to kill himself through a series of text messages now rests in the hands of a judge.

Michelle Carter’s defense wrapped up Tuesday after calling just one witness – Dr. Peter Breggin.

READ: All the text messages between Michelle Carter, Conrad Roy the day he committed suicide

He’s a Harvard University educated psychiatrist and a medical legal expert who didn’t treat Carter, but went through her medical records and text messages between her and Conrad Roy.

Breggin said that antidepressants changed Carter. He said she was going through a transformation and that her longing to help people changed because of a bad reaction to a new antidepressant she was taking.

She began to take the medication about three months before Roy killed himself.

In court Tuesday, Roy’s suicide note he left for Carter was submitted as evidence.

He writes:

“Keep strong in tough times. You taught me how to be strong and carry on. This life has been too challenging and troublesome to me…”

He continues:

I am messed up I guess. I wish I could express my gratitude but I feel brain dead. I love you and greatly appreciate (your) effort and kindness towards me.”

The defense has argued that Carter tried to help Roy and is not responsible for his suicide.

But the prosecution places the blame solely on Carter.

“She knew when he got back (into the truck) he would die. That what she wanted to have happen. She wasn’t going to let him live,” Assistant District Attorney Katie Rayburn said.

“you’re dealing with an individual who wanted to take his own life and he did at the end. He accomplished what he wanted. He dragged Michelle Carter into this,” Joseph Cataldo, Carter’s attorney, said.

Carter waived her right to a jury trial so now her fate will be decided by Judge Lawrence Moniz.