Brett Daniel Taylor: Fresh charges for man accused of assisting in suicide of David Llewellyn Bedford
A man accused of running a fake whale euthanasia charity to sell drugs that aided a person with quadriplegia to take his own life has been hit with fresh charges
Brett Daniel Taylor, 53, was one of three people charged in September over a police probe into the alleged assisted suicide death of David Llewellyn Bedford at Hope Island, in Queensland.
Mr Taylor was also charged with aiding in the suicide of a woman who was working undercover for police, possessing and trafficking in animal euthanasia drugs and receiving money from drug trafficking.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.He is further accused of sourcing the euthanasia drug under false pretences by setting up beached whale euthanasia charity Cetacean Compassion Australia Ltd and accessing it through a lawful supplier.
Southport 81-year-old Elaine Arch-Rowe and an 80-year-old man believed to be Mr Taylor’s father have also been charged in connection to the investigation.
On Thursday, detectives with Operation Xray Ezine, launched to investigate the circumstances surrounding 43-year-old Mr Bedford’s April 11 death, revealed Mr Taylor had been charged with nine additional offences.
“Toxicology results from a post-mortem examination confirmed the man died from acute pentobarbitone toxicity, a veterinary euthanasia drug listed as a schedule two substance under the Drugs Misuse Regulation 1987,” a police statement read.
Mr Bedford was a former chef who was left paralysed by a car crash in August 2022, according to his previous submission to a Queensland parliamentary inquiry into voluntary assisted dying in 2020.
Mr Taylor has now been charged with assisting in a third suicide, that of a 75-year-old man at Ashmore on 9 January, 2024.
He is also four additional counts of supplying dangerous drugs, which include allegedly offering the drug at meetings in Maroochydore on 10 September and Nerang on 19 February.
Three counts of fraud, which include allegedly falsely claiming to be qualified solicitor and charging unauthorised fees for estate planning and end-of-life services.
One count of converting monies under the Collections Act 1966 in relation to the alleged misappropriation of donated charity funds for personal expenses.
He is scheduled to reappear at the Southport Magistrates Court on December 2.
The investigation into the case is continuing.
— with AAP
