West Yorkshire man charged with encouraging suicide of man in the US
The 21 year old form Morley is accused of encouraging a person in Louisiana to take their own life
A West Yorkshire man has been charged with allegedly encouraging the suicide of a man in the USA over a video call.
Dylan Phelan, 21, from Morley, is accused of encouraging the suicide of a 21-year-old man in Louisiana on October 30 2024, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.
West Yorkshire Police said Phelan has been charged with intentionally doing an act capable of encouraging the suicide of another.
He has also been charged with making an indecent image of a child and possession of extreme pornography - charges which the CPS said are not connected to the suicide of the 21-year-old man.
Phelan is due to appear at Leeds Magistrates' Court on February 11.
Malcolm McHaffie, head of the Crown Prosecution Service's special crime division, said: "Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.
"We have worked closely with West Yorkshire Police as they carried out their investigation into the circumstances of this death. Our thoughts are with the family of the victim at this time.
"We remind all concerned that proceedings against this defendant are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.
"It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings."