Allegedly tortured under Burge, Tillman out after 23 years

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/24-7/1992162,CST-NWS-burge15.article

'Justice prevailed,' freed inmate says

January 15, 2010

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN Criminal Courts Reporter

Alleged police torture victim Michael Tillman slowly let his newfound freedom sink in Thursday, indicating that the shock of leaving prison after 23 years was equally as jolting as being convicted for a crime he says he didn't commit.

"I'm glad that justice finally prevailed. It feels good. I have to take it one day at a time, just like jail," Tillman said after Cook County prosecutors' decision to drop charges stemming from the 1986 rape and murder of Betty Howard, 42.

Tillman is the latest of released former felons who claimed they were beaten under the authority of disgraced Area 2 Cmdr. Jon Burge. Tillman had been serving a life sentence.

"I want to get to know my family better," the 43-year-old father of two said.

Tillman has yet to be formally exonerated, but special assistant state's attorneys declined to retry him, citing "unreliable" and "forced confessions."

[Omaha Steve]

1. I was going to post this

Kick. Too late for an R.