Murder, Manslaughter Counts Tossed In Rochester Suicide Case

ROCHESTER (AP) - A judge has dismissed murder and manslaughter charges against a Minnesota man who was accused of contributing to his girlfriend's suicide with years of physical and emotional abuse.

Olmsted County District Court Judge Debra Jacobson said 35-year-old Long Vang still faces a felony count of stalking.

County Attorney Mark Ostrem said Vang's conduct directly contributed to the December suicide of 28-year-old Jessica Haban and charged him with third-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter and stalking. Haban was the mother of Vang's two children.

In her ruling last week, Jacobson concluded there was insufficient evidence to proceed on the murder and manslaughter charges.

Vang's attorney, Duane Kennedy, says his client plans to plead not guilty to the stalking charge at a hearing Wednesday.