Killer robot shoots man dead on driveway

[Foxy Brown]

An 81-year-old man has shot himself dead with an elaborate suicide robot built using plans downloaded from the internet.

The Gold Coast man, who lived alone, left notes of his plans and thoughts as he struggled to come to terms with demands by interstate relatives that he move out his home and into care.

He spent hours searching the internet for a way to kill himself, downloaded what he needed and then built a complex machine that would remotely fire a gun.

He set the device up in his driveway about 7am yesterday, placed himself in front of it and set it in motion.

[shadowstar]

I know this might sound mean, but first thing I thought of was Peter Griffin's 'breakfast invention'..

[Shin Asuka]

I found this quite sad and interesting at the same time.

Sad that his family kept pressuring him into a "home" but weird that he chose suicide by a complex machine O_o

[reina's eyes]

Sad indeed.

My brother and I were in the difficult situation of trying to encourage our parents to move into assisted living. They clearly had gotten past the point where they could properly care for themselves. It actually became an issue for everyone around them and we were all very relieved when they finally moved out of their house.

A few years back I had an elderly reclusive neighbor who committed suicide. He called the police reporting an open door (meaning a possible break in) and when they came to investigate they found him inside. He had shot himself in the head.

One of the cops, a senior sergeant, was so shaken I had to dial the phone for her to call the building owner.

Dying in a home or making sure it's the cops who find your body are the polite things to do. But regardless, getting old and losing one's abilities and will to continue isn't easy.

[ctz]

It would have been cool if he had built the machine like 20 years or something no one knowing what the hell it's gonna be. Until now, of course.