Slaying of Gay GI Brings Legal Claim
The mother of a soldier murdered in his barracks filed a $1.8-million claim Wednesday against the Army, alleging it ignored underage drinking and harassment of her son.
Fellow soldiers believed Pfc. Barry Winchell was gay and harassed him for months before he was beaten to death with a baseball bat last July, according to testimony at the murder trial.
Winchell’s mother, Patricia Kutteles, alleges the Army knew about the harassment but did nothing to stop it.
Attorney Adam Pachter said the claim was filed under a federal law that allows reimbursement from the military for injury or death.
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