Article: JUDGE ACQUITS TEEN IN DEATH | `TRAGEDY': FATHER'S DRUNKENNESS, EARLIER ABUSE NOTED IN JUDGE'S VERDICT

Labeling the situation "a tragedy of classical proportions," a judge has found a Mundelein teen-ager not guilty of choking his father to death. Circuit Judge Stephen Walter issued his decision following closing arguments Friday in the bench trial of Dennis Lortie, 19, who was charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Lortie initially was charged with first-degree murder.

Defense attorney Thomas Briscoe hugged Lortie at the defense table after Walter rendered his verdict, which was reached following two days of testimony.

Lortie also was embraced by an aunt and uncle.

"Now it's time for the Lortie family to pick up the pieces and move on," Briscoe said.

Lortie might have been sentenced to ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!