Man Convicted of Murdering His Ex-Lawyer Is Sentenced to Life in Prison
A Chicago-area man has been sentenced to life in prison for the suffocation death of his one-time lawyer.
Terry Bratcher was convicted in September of killing 82-year-old Carl Kuhn while robbing the former lawyer’s home with an accomplice. A judge in suburban DuPage County sentenced Bratcher on Monday, report the Chicago Tribune and the Daily Herald. Kuhn had represented Bratcher at some court appearances and had paid Bratcher to work on his cars.
Judge Blanche Hill Fawell imposed the life sentence and called Bratcher’s actions “almost those of a monster,” the Tribune says.
Bratcher and co-defendant Keith Allen were accused of breaking into Kuhn’s home to steal his gun collection. The defendants were accused of forcing Kuhn to drink iced tea containing dish soap and then killing him by shoving his head into a pillow. Allen received a 46-year-sentence after pleading guilty to murder earlier this year.
Bratcher’s sister testified he became addicted to painkillers after he hurt his back building a playhouse for his youngest sister.
Prior coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Jury Convicts Trusted Ex-Client of Murdering Elderly Ex-Lawyer and Stealing His Guns”
