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Father of school shooter sues son’s clinic

Published: 1 Jan 13 16:40 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20130101-47075.html

The father of the teen responsible for the Winnenden school massacre is suing the clinic that treated his son before he murdered 15 people in the southwestern German town in 2009.

Jörg Kretschmer is seeking €8.8 million in damages from the Weissenhof psychiatric clinic in Weinsberg with a civil suit, his lawyer Erik Silcher said on Tuesday. He said Kretschmer was merely attempting to cover costs he was likely to face as a result of the tragedy rather than make any money for himself.

In March 2009, 17-year-old Tim Kretschmer went on a rampage at his former high school and nearby with his father’s gun before killing himself. The clinic had examined the teenager just a few months earlier but doctors reportedly found no signs he could be a danger to anyone.

“If the medical regulations has been followed, this terrible deed never would have happened,” Silcher told regional daily the Heilbronner Stimme.

The lawyer said the law suit had been filed just before to the statute of limitations expired which would have prevented any legal recourse.

Jörg Kretschmer was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in February 2011 for failing to keep the weapon used in the massacre out of his son’s reach. He was given a suspended sentence, but he faces millions of euros in damages from the town of Winnenden and the vicitims’ families.

DAPD/The Local/mry

What do you think? Leave your comment below.


Your comments about this article:

16:58 January 1, 2013 by lucksi
If your son is farked up enough that you send him to a mental clinic, then you know something is wrong. But hey, better leave guns around where he can get them.
17:50 January 1, 2013 by puisoh
What a jerrk, no wonder his son went psycho! Psychopaths always blame someone else for their fate.
19:51 January 1, 2013 by raandy
Absolutely, if you have any concerns that your teenage son has some serious issues, you do not leave firearms around in his reach.

This guy wants to spread the blame around , but it shouldn't fly.
20:51 January 1, 2013 by nashville
Was this kid on some kind of psycho tropic drug? The article doesn't say, but I read that in many of these school and mass shootings the killer was on either adhd meds or depression meds. Can this really be true?
22:36 January 1, 2013 by gorongoza
Unbelievable !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GET THIS GUY BEHIND BARS BEFORE HE COMMITS A HORRENDOUS CRIME - JUST LIKE HIS SON.

I may sound funny but this is serious.This is exactly how these psychopaths behave. My warning may save lives. Watch my words !
10:40 January 2, 2013 by Dyderich
Upbringing....look around and check their upbringing...if parented properly with discipline (without the need for abuse but using proper discipline - which is not telling Johnny to stop doing something over and over or making them timeout but actually disciplining them corporally - ie. spanking them) you would find that kids are more behaved. This "new" kinder gentler approach works for kids but the resulting antipathy against adults and such is a good direct result. I never understood why parents would let their kids scream and run around in public places and only keep saying behave over and over....I would have smacked my kid across the ass and got them to stop and they would have stopped, but nowadays that is looked upon as child abuse as if disciplining your child was wrong...you create your own problems by ignoring the things right in front of your own eyes...why do kids have to be medicated so much more nowadays? Mainly because the parent doesnt know or care to deal with their child properly and figure meds are the answer...and kids with problems...yeah lets coddle them so they can grow up and take their anger against the world out in spectacular ways - like school shootings and movie theater shootings...take the first step as a parent and teach your kid proper behaviour with actual corporal punishment if they decide to act out. Tell those other parents who coddle their kids when they are shocked that you spank your kid when they misbehave that your kid will know what is right and wrong and as long as you are not abusing your own kid with physical punishments (coat hangars, face slapping, etc) but using proper spanking and denial of their items (remove privelages like TV/PC/etc and not for some hours but weeks/months so that they will understand if you act out you will find punishment awaiting) - it is so simple for the majority of kids to get proper upbringing that does not require much (only the hardcore/mental ones are the ones that would require much more intervention) - most everyone can be easily corrected in behaviour without the need for meds and the stupid non-working punishments of stop doing that Johnny...go sit in the corner for 5 minutes...which do nothing and emphasize nothing against their behaviour style.
11:16 January 4, 2013 by raandy
Dyderich not that I agree with all you wrote, but

there is a definite break down of values and morality in present society. I would attribute most of this to dysfunctional families where children are raised in front of the TV or the text pad. ipad ect.Values and morality are being taught by their peers.

Physical discipline creates more problems than it solves. I never read where you mentioned love understanding and compassion for our children. A punishment and reward system is important but one can achieve this with out violence.
16:49 January 4, 2013 by chicagolive
raandy I think corporal punishment is always the last one. I give it to my children and get nasty looks also but I am sorry I don't know how many times I have seen just at my one sons kindergarten how the kids talk towards their parents. Lets not even start with my oldest son with his school. These kids have no respect/fear of repercussions of their actions. I will whoop my children after I tell them once nicely to stop something, after that you will learn the hard way. Afterwards I will explain to them why it happen and I pretty much have no issues with them. Also their character is much harder and stronger than the other children around them because they understand that wrongs can cause you problems. I rather that pain come from me and they know then being on my knees in front of them and that get their butt whooped by life when they get older.
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