Slashing victim wins lawsuit | News

WISCASSET, Maine (AP) - A judge has awarded more than $3.6 million to a Maine woman who was nearly decapitated when a man and woman cut her throat and killed her friend in 2009.

Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Hjelm on Friday awarded $2 million in general damages, $1 million in punitive damages and more than $600,000 for medical expenses and lost income to Tracey Neild.

Neild filed suit against 27-year-old Earl "Buddy" Bieler III and 45-year-old Corina Durkee, who are serving lengthy prison sentences for murder and attempted murder. Neild had her throat slashed and her friend, Rachel Grindal, was killed when they interrupted a burglary at Neild's home in Waldoboro.

Neild's attorney, Sumner Lipman, said Neild can only speak in a whisper and has a severe case of post-traumatic stress disorder.