Written by
The Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) - An inmate who says Chicago police officers tortured him into confessing to a brutal rape is expected to learn whether the Illinois Supreme Court will allow him to present evidence of coercion that was denied at trial.
The opinion expected Thursday by the high court applies only to Stanley Wrice but could have implications for as many as 20 other inmates seeking similar appeals.
An appellate court granted Wrice a new evidentiary hearing on his torture allegations, but prosecutors are trying to block it from happening and asked the Supreme Court to hear the case.
Attorneys say it's difficult to predict what the justices will do.
They could affirm or deny the appeals court's decision or send the case back to address a procedural step that was skipped.
The Associated Press