Ill. inmate says he confessed so officers would stop beating him

[sabra]

Source: AP

CHICAGO (AP) - An inmate seeking a new murder trial has testified that Chicago police officers punched him, hit him with a flashlight and threatened him until his will was broken.

Cortez Brown told a judge today that he signed a confession to get the abuse to stop. The judge will decide later whether to grant a new trial.

Brown was convicted of first-degree murder in 1992 for two slayings.

The 38-year-old spent more than a decade on death row before his sentence was commuted to life in prison by former Illinois Gov. George Ryan in 2003.

Brown, who claims he is innocent, said he was coerced into confessing by officers overseen by former Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge.

Three officers who worked under Burge took the Fifth Amendment on almost every question today.

Read more: http://www.kwqc.com/Global/story.asp?S=10382987&nav=7k7N

[Raskolnik]

1. Jon Burge is a real piece of work.

Thank goodness that Daley had no idea what was going on while he was State's Attorney, or he would have been outraged. Outraged, I tell you!

[ixion]

2. You can make someone say anything you want if you torture them enough

but the question in my mind is: Why are sick bastards like this allowed anywhere near 'power' positions in our society? What the hell is wrong with our society when we advocate for officers who torture?

We're a very screwed up species, IMO.

[liberal N proud]

3. So much for torture being effective

[AlexDeLarge]

5. It is effective

It got the police what they wanted: a confession.

[RaleighNCDUer]

4. What i don't get about cops doing this shit is

do they not understand that when they beat a false confession out of someone, the REAL bad guy gets away?

[47of74]

6. These guys are pigs

Pigs who were given law enforcement powers. Real cops, on the other hand, know that when they beat a false confession out of someone the real bad guy gets away scot free.

[alfredo]

8. A supply of bad guys is job security. The system needs a daily supply

to justify their jobs.

[ConcernedCanuk]

9. You must realize that sometimes "the real bad guy" IS A COP?

.
.
.

or a snitch for the cop,

or a relative,

or a friend,

etc., etc?

And then some cops are just plain mean, LIKE to beat people, and don't give a shit if the bad guy gets away or not?

Statistics indicate that between 1 - 4% of the population are socio/psychopaths.

Do the math

1000 cops - at least 10 psychos - -

ouch . . .

[pattmarty]

7. Watch the "trickle down" of the torture thing. Cruelty has been gaining..............

...............momentum in jails and even in juvenile facilities over the years since the 60's, but look for a "surge" in this type of shit in OUR prisons for the next few years.