No charges are to be brought against the Worcester family of a paralysed rugby player for helping him travel to Switzerland to commit suicide, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
Daniel James, 23, died at a clinic run by the Dignitas organisation on September 12, more than a year after a rugby accident which left him paralysed from the chest down.
The CPS considered bringing charges under the Suicide Act against his parents Mark and Julie James, from Sinton Green, Worcester.
Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer QC said today that such a prosecution would not be in the public interest, and no further action will be taken against the couple.
Mr Starmer said that while there were public interest factors in favour of a prosecution, including the seriousness of the case, they were outweighed by the arguments against.
"This is a tragic case, involving as it does, the death of a young man in difficult and unique circumstances," he said. "In reaching my decision I have given careful consideration to the Code for Crown Prosecutors.
"In particular, but not exclusively, I would point to the fact that Daniel, as a fiercely independent young man, was not influenced by his parents to take his own life and the evidence indicates he did so despite their imploring him not to."
Mr James was a promising rugby player and represented England at under-16s level. In March last year he dislocated his spine when a scrum collapsed during a training session at Nuneaton Rugby Football Club. The injury left Mr James paralysed from the chest down, with no independent hand or finger movement, and eight months later his consultant said it was unlikely he would ever enjoy a significant recovery.
A spinal research fund created by family and friends in his memory has raised almost £25,000.
