Abstract

The article explores the problem of preconditions for taking free and
independent decision by a person committing suicide. Furthermore, it answers the question how the process of taking free decision by a person committing suicide influences the criminal responsibility of a human under Article 151 of the Criminal Code which prohibits incitement or providing assistance to suicide. The analysis concerns the age of a suicide and his/her sanity. The conclusion is that the age of a suicide does not have normative meaning and may be taken into account only as an additional interpretative indication. The ability of recognising the significance of his/her act or controlling his/her conduct shall be assessed ad casum. In criminal law this ability shall be defined as “ability to self-determination” rather than “sanity”. Separate consideration was devoted to the question how the mistake as to the characteristic of a person (a suicide) may influence the criminal responsibility of an accused.