Suicide concert band leader hires lawyer

By Vickie Chachere, Associated Press Writer, 10/3/2003

TAMPA, Fla. -- The lead singer of a band which is threatening to feature a live suicide at its concert this weekend hired a criminal defense attorney Friday.

Hell on Earth leader Billy Tourtelot, who has not been seen publicly since his band first announced last month it would host the suicide by a terminally ill fan, will be represented by Kevin Hayslett.

The attorney said it is not clear if the suicide is still planned for the industrial rock band's Saturday concert. The band had intended to broadcast the incident on its Web page.

"It appears that everybody I talked to is trying to advise it not to take place," Hayslett said. "I don't think any sane person wants it to go forward."

The threat of a public suicide -- which some are dismissing as a publicity stunt -- led to a new St. Petersburg city ordinance and prompted a judge to issue an injunction against the event. Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist has said that the person who assists in the suicide could be charged with a felony and face up to 15 years in prison.

Tourtelot, 33, the son of a prominent St. Petersburg real estate agent, did not respond to messages left for him by the Associated Press on Friday. The other members of the band have remained anonymous throughout the controversy, which has garnered the band worldwide publicity.

The person threatening to kill himself says he is dying and wants to promote his right-to-die views.

Hayslett said there are several legal issues at hand if the suicide does occur, ranging from the ordinance the city council passed in an emergency session Monday, Florida's law banning assisted suicide and the potential for Tourtelot to be charged as a principal to manslaughter.

"My understanding is the show will go on," Hayslett said, adding he has not been told where it will happen. "I don't know if it's going to go on in cyberspace, in the state of Florida or in the United States."

The case, which struck even the courtroom veteran as odd, is the latest in a string of high-profile cases for the former prosecutor.

In 2002, Hayslett successfully defended Tampa radio personality Bubba "the Love Sponge" Clem against animal cruelty charges in the on-air slaughter of a boar. Tourtelot's few public comments on the planned suicide have been made on Clem's morning radio show.

More recently, Hayslett represented Tampa Bay Buccaneer's free safety Dwight Smith on a misdemeanor charge of improperly displaying a firearm during a road rage incident.