Rhino
07-12-2006, 12:16 PM
Jul 12, 12:33 AM EDT
Wrongful Conviction Lawsuit Goes to Trial
By DON BABWIN
Associated Press Writer
CHICAGO (AP) -- Members of a police unit that is facing allegations of torturing innocent men to obtain convictions went on trial Tuesday in a lawsuit brought by a man who spent 27 years in prison before he was released and later pardoned.
Michael Evans and a second man were convicted in 1977 in the murder of a 9-year-old girl. A Cook County judge released both men from prison in 2003 after DNA evidence did not match either one. Gov. Rod Blagojevich later pardoned the men.
Evans has sued the city of Chicago, and 12 current and former members of the Area 2 violent crime unit.
He testified Tuesday that he was so young, unsophisticated and confused when Chicago police interrogated him that at one point he thought a prosecutor was his lawyer. Asked why he cooperated with police and tried to answer all their questions, Evans said officers told him he would be released to his mother if he did.
Evans, who testified he has a learning disability and could barely read or write when he was interrogated, said he also went along with police out of fear.
"I was afraid if I didn't cooperate they were going to use any type of brutality," Evans said.........http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/W/WRONGFUL_CONVICTION_LAWSUIT?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US
Wrongful Conviction Lawsuit Goes to Trial
By DON BABWIN
Associated Press Writer
CHICAGO (AP) -- Members of a police unit that is facing allegations of torturing innocent men to obtain convictions went on trial Tuesday in a lawsuit brought by a man who spent 27 years in prison before he was released and later pardoned.
Michael Evans and a second man were convicted in 1977 in the murder of a 9-year-old girl. A Cook County judge released both men from prison in 2003 after DNA evidence did not match either one. Gov. Rod Blagojevich later pardoned the men.
Evans has sued the city of Chicago, and 12 current and former members of the Area 2 violent crime unit.
He testified Tuesday that he was so young, unsophisticated and confused when Chicago police interrogated him that at one point he thought a prosecutor was his lawyer. Asked why he cooperated with police and tried to answer all their questions, Evans said officers told him he would be released to his mother if he did.
Evans, who testified he has a learning disability and could barely read or write when he was interrogated, said he also went along with police out of fear.
"I was afraid if I didn't cooperate they were going to use any type of brutality," Evans said.........http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/W/WRONGFUL_CONVICTION_LAWSUIT?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US