Politics
Man Acquitted of 1996 Murder After He Spent 23 Years in Prison Should Get $7.5M, City Lawyers Recommend
(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)
A man who spent 23 years in prison in connection with a 1996 murder he was later acquitted of should be paid $7.5 million, city lawyers recommended Thursday.
Bernard Williams was 17 when he was convicted in 1998 of killing Gary Thomas outside Wash’s Lounge in West Garfield Park following an investigation led by now former Chicago Police Detective Kriston Kato, who has been accused by dozens of Chicagoans of beating them into confessing to crimes they did not commit.
The settlement set to be considered by the Chicago City Council’s Finance Committee on Monday would be the third lawsuit resolved by the City Council that alleged wrongdoing by Kato.
In 2019, the City Council agreed to pay $4.5 million to Carl Chatman, who was wrongfully convicted of an alleged assault at the Daley Center in May 2002. In 2022, the City Council agreed to pay $9 million to Patrick Prince, who spent 25 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of a 1991 murder.
A final vote by the full City Council on the proposed settlement for Williams could come as soon as Wednesday.
No physical evidence tied Williams to Thomas’ murder. The only witness who identified Williams as Thomas’ killer later recanted their testimony.
Kato testified twice that Williams confessed to Thomas’ murder but acknowledged there was no evidence Williams made that admission during an interrogation.
Williams’ conviction was overturned by an appeals court in 2019.
Williams was the first of eight defendants who were convicted based on evidence gathered by Kato to be retried after their convictions were overturned.
Former Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx recused her office from the cases to avoid “the appearance of impropriety” because Kato, who retired from the Chicago Police Department in 2006, is married to Cook County Judge Mary Margaret Brosnahan, who presides over criminal cases.
Williams was acquitted during that retrial in 2023 during a trial presided over by a judge from Will County.
Dozens of Chicagoans have accused Kato of torturing them into confessing to crimes they did not commit. Kato, who was investigated for wrongdoing by the city’s Office of Professional Standards but cleared, has denied any wrongdoing.
The Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission found evidence to support claims that Kato had tortured defendants.
Contact Heather Cherone: @HeatherCherone | (773) 569-1863 | [email protected]
