Attorneys: detectives framed black men imprisoned for 25 years in retired US officer's death

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Attorneys: detectives framed black men imprisoned for 25 years in retired US officer's death
By David Pitt, The Associated Press November 1, 2012 6:02 PM

DES MOINES, Iowa - Lawyers for two black men wrongly convicted in the 1977 murder of a retired white police officer told jurors in a civil trial Thursday that investigators coerced witnesses into fabricating testimony.

Terry Harrington and Curtis McGhee are suing the city of Council Bluffs and two retired police investigators for more than $100 million. The men were sent to prison for life for the shotgun killing of John Schweer, a retired police captain who was working as a security guard for local car dealerships. Harrington and McGhee were freed in 2003 after 25 years in prison after the Iowa Supreme Court found prosecutors committed misconduct.

Pottawatamie County later agreed to pay $12 million to settle claims against two former prosecutors while not admitting wrongdoing, but the settlement did not resolve claims against Council Bluffs and former detectives Dan Larsen and Lyle Brown.

The city of Council Bluffs disputes allegations that the investigators framed McGhee and Harrington and contends the officers had enough evidence against them to take to prosecutors and to lead to convictions.





Read more: http://www.canada.com/news/world/Attorneys+detectives+framed+black+imprisoned+years+retired+officers/7484935/story.html

[JRLeft]

1. Corruption and racism in the justice system? No way.

[Occulus]

2. We need a Federal law eliminating that little "no admission of wrongdoing" wiggle

You settled for twelve million dollars but you did no wrong?

If you settle, you believe the other side has the evidence to nail you. Admit you did it, pay the bribe (that's what it really is), and move on.