Pair face trial over euthanasia

Two Sydney women have denied that they either murdered an Alzheimer's victim, or they aided and abetted his suicide.

Shirley Justins, 59, and her friend, Caren Jenning, 74, were arraigned today in the NSW Supreme Court.

They both pleaded not guilty to murdering former Qantas pilot Graeme Wylie, who was the 71-year-old partner of Justins.

They also pleaded not guilty to the alternative charge of aiding and abetting the suicide of Mr Wylie, who left an estate worth about $2.5 million.

He died of a lethal dose of the barbiturate drug Nembutal on March 22 last year, at the home he shared with Justins at Cammeray on Sydney's north shore.

Justice Graham Barr continued the women's bail and set down their trial for May 5.

The trial, before Justice Michael Adams, is expected to last about four weeks.

An earlier court hearing was told police alleged Jenning travelled to Mexico in March last year and returned home with the drug, which is only available to vets in Australia.

Swiss authorities had allegedly rejected an application in November 2005 for Mr Wylie to take his own life in Switzerland, where euthanasia is legal.

Police also contended that Mr Wylie's will had been changed a week before his death to favour Justins.

Since the trial has been set for May 5 next year, it would be wrong of me to make any comments that might in any way prejudice the case. However, it does seem strange that one of the women travelled to Mexico in March last year and that she returned home with the barbiturate, Nembutal. Both women are associated with the Voluntary Euthanasia society.

What is really suspicious is that Mr. Wylie's will was changed a week before his death to favour Shirley Justins. This is something that a jury will have to seriously consider when dealing with all of the facts of this case.

Voluntary euthanasia is not legal in this country, and it is possible for people to manipulate a situation, such as someone having Alzheimer's Disease, in order to gain financial advantage. On the surface this appears to be the case.