A former murder convict is suing a university and its professor for allegedly forcing him to confess to a 1982 double murder case.

Alstory Simon spent a decade and a half behind bars for a crime he said he did not commit.

Now, he wants to be compensated for the emotional distress and mental torture he suffered during years of detention.

Like Us on Facebook

"I am angry at the people who did what they did to me," said Simon.

Simon, represented by his lawyers Terry Ekl and Jim Sotos, filed a $40 million lawsuit against Northwestern University and former professor David Protess.

Simon claimed Protess, with the help of a private investigator and another lawyer, falsified documents and tricked him into confessing to a double murder in Chicago. 

Simon's admission had helped free another death row inmate Anthony Porter, who had been jailed for 17 years for the 1982 killings.

The suit meanwhile accused Northwestern University of tolerating unethical conduct among its faculty members and students who have been working to free inmates.

Simon said the team of Protess faked some documents, fabricated statements from witnesses and threatened him to confess through a video. 

He said a lawyer was even hired to coach him to plead guilty.  The suit also claimed Simon was under duress and the influence of illegal drugs when he confessed.

Simon's case is considered a landmark case in Illinois, which at that time had been looking to abolish death penalty. 

Simon's confession and Porter's release were major factors for then Illinois Governor George Ryan to issue a moratorium on executions on concerns innocent people could be put to death. 

Illinois had completely abolished death penalty in 2011.

 "Northwestern knew about these activities as early as 1996 and did not put a stop to anything,"Ekl said.

Northwestern said it is reviewing the suit but was quick to deny any wrongdoing.  The university management remains confident it will be vindicated in a court.

Private investigator Paul Ciolino, who allegedly worked with Protess to get Simon to confess, said allegations thrown at him were all part of a media spin.

"I don't have to read this lawsuit to know it is frivolous," Ciolino said.

In August 1982, two people were shot dead on Chicago's South Side. Witnesses linked Porter to the crime. He was later convicted and sentenced to death.

Simon's videotaped confession came days ahead of Porter's scheduled execution. This led to prosecutors agreeing to Porter's release.

Simon, who pleaded guilty to the double murder, was sentenced to 37 years in prison.

TagsIllinois, Lawsuit, alstory simon, Northwestern University