MS sufferer wins suicide challenge

Two judges gave Debbie Purdy leave to challenge the alleged refusal of Director of Public Prosecutions Sir Ken Macdonald to state a clear policy on whether, and in what circumstances, people might be prosecuted if they help loved ones to die.

Lord Justice Latham, sitting with Mr Justice Nelson at London's High Court, ruled that "without wishing to give Ms Purdy any optimism that her arguments will ultimately succeed", she did have an arguable case which should go to a full hearing.

Ms Purdy said later: "I am really pleased."

The case will come on for a full hearing in October.

The 45-year-old, who lived an adventurous life including trekking through jungles and jumping out of planes before illness set in, plans to choose her moment to die.

She wants to know whether her husband will be prosecuted if he helps her travel to a clinic in Belgium or Zurich, Switzerland, to commit suicide, if her condition becomes unbearably painful.

Her fear is that professional musician Omar Puente could be arrested on his return home.

Ms Purdy lives in her specially-adapted home in Bradford, West Yorkshire, and met her Cuban husband while travelling around the world.

Jeremy Johnson, appearing for the DPP, had argued in court that her case was not arguable. But the judges ruled that the "nature of this case and its sensitivity", which raised human rights issues, justified a full hearing.