Settlement approved in Kansas wrongful conviction

Another false confession extorted by the police

The Manhattan City Commission has voted to approve a settlement with a man who served 10 years in prison for a rape he didn't commit.

In a meeting Tuesday night, the commission voted to have Mayor Bob Strawn sign the agreement for Eddie James Lowery. He was convicted in 1981 of raping an Ogden woman and served 10 years before DNA proved his innocence.

Manhattan was 1 of 18 parties sued by Lowery. The entire settlement is worth $7.5 million and Manhattan will be responsible for just over $1.3 million of that amount.

On Wednesday, the Riley County Commission voted to approve paying $356,000 as its part of the settlement, and the county Law Board approved the settlement on a unanimous vote. The attorney representing Manhattan, David Cooper of Topeka, says the other parties to the lawsuit likely will sign it within 10 days.

Original report here



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