Assisted Suicide Charges Withdrawn

A Waterloo man who was with his wife when she committed suicide has pleaded guilty to criminal negligence causing death in Thunder Bay.

Forty-seven-year-old Peter Fonteece entered the plea yesterday in Superior Court, while a second charge of assisted suicide was withdrawn.

The charges against Fonteece stem from the death of his38-year-old wife Yanisa Fonteece in a Thunder Bay hotel room on February 3rd.

Court heard Yanisa Fonteece took dozens of sleeping pills, had several drinks and told her husband not to call for help until she was dead.

Court heard that two days before, the couple left Waterloo for a better life.

Peter Fonteece couldn't work due to a lifelong vision impairment,while his wife recently lost her job.

The couple left Waterloo on February 1st, reaching Thunder Bay the next day, where their car's heater broke down.

Yanisa Fonteece ended her life in the hotel room, knowing they wouldn't be able to afford the car repairs.

Court heard Peter Fonteece attempted suicide himself three times after her death, without success.

He'll be sentenced in February.