Members of Hell on Earth made themselves scarce as officers sought to serve them the order.
By CARRIE JOHNSON
Published October 3, 2003
ST. PETERSBURG - A judge told a local rock group Thursday to drop its plan to broadcast a live suicide over the Internet, but none of the band members were present to hear the order.
The seats at the defendants' table reserved for heavy metal group Hell on Earth were conspicuously empty during a court hearing. In the band's absence, Circuit Judge John C. Lenderman extended an order he issued Monday to halt the suicide of a terminally ill person during an Oct. 4 performance. The ban is extended indefinitely.
If band members defy the judge's ruling, they could be held in contempt of court and sentenced to as much as a year in jail.
Process servers and police are searching for the members of Hell on Earth to serve them with court papers. But time is running out, and city officials said they're not sure where the concert will be held.
"There's no way we can absolutely prevent someone from breaking the law if they are determined to do it," said Mayor Rick Baker.
The shock rockers ignited a media furor last month when they announced their intention to feature a suicide as a statement in support of euthanasia. Thursday's hearing at the St. Petersburg Courthouse attracted a throng of reporters.
Eight television cameras recorded City Attorney John Wolfe's every move as he argued the case. Reporters filled the jury box and the courtroom benches.
A representative from the state Attorney General's office was at the hearing to show support for the city's position. Attorney General Charlie Crist released a statement Thursday calling Hell on Earth's plans "a despicable violation of both the law and common decency."
Among those scheduled to testify was Dave Hundley, co-owner of the State Theatre, where the band was originally scheduled to perform. Hundley canceled the performance, saying he was afraid the crowd might get out of control or inspire copycats.
Hundley told city officials the band's lead singer, Billy Tourtelot, said a second person had called him after hearing about the onstage suicide and also wanted to end his life at the concert.
A professor from Florida State University also expressed fears about copycat suicides. In a written affidavit, Thomas Joiner said the concert could glamorize suicide and make it less frightening.
"In my opinion, suicide should be daunting because in addition to the harm the suicidal person does to himself or herself, suicide bereaves millions of people," Joiner wrote.
On Monday, the City Council passed an emergency ordinance making it illegal to conduct, host, promote or sell tickets for a suicide for entertainment or commercial purposes.
Violating the ordinance could result in a 60-day jail sentence and a $500 fine. Assisting a suicide is a second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
After the State Theatre canceled the performance, Tourtelot announced the concert would be held in an undisclosed location somewhere in St. Petersburg and broadcast over the Internet.
But with all the court action and emergency legislation, it may be a technical glitch that spoils Hell on Earth's plan: Their Web site has not been accessible since Wednesday afternoon.
