Episode Details

Cook County prosecutors have dropped their case against a man convicted in the 20-11 murder of Chicago Police Officer Clifton Lewis. A judge then threw out that conviction and a sentence of life in prison for Alexander Villa [VIH-lah, not VEE-yah]. That means the three men charged with Lewis’ killing have all had their cases dismissed — and no one is being held responsible for a cop’s murder. At yesterday’s (wed) hearing, attorneys for Lewis’s relatives argued there was enough evidence to put Villa on trial again. But the judge said charging decisions are up to prosecutors. Villa’s [VIH-lah] defense attorney, Jennifer Blagg, worked nearly five years to get the conviction reversed. She spoke with WBEZ’s Chip Mitchell outside the courthouse. HOST: DIXON