by TChris

Shawn Drumgold was convicted of murdering a 12-year-old girl in 1989. A Boston Globe investigation in 2003 revealed that his conviction was flawed.

The Globe found that a key witness against Drumgold was suffering from brain cancer when she testified about seeing Drumgold at the murder scene. The Globe also found that other prosecution witnesses recanted sworn testimony and statements used to convict Drumgold.

Last November, a judge vacated Drumgold's conviction, and after serving 15 years for a crime he didn't commit, Drumgold was set free. Now he's suing the Boston police, alleging that they withheld evidence of his innocence and pressured a key witness to lie at his trial.

"This is a very strong case," said Drumgold's lawyer, Stephen Hrones, noting other wrongful convictions in the state. This is "another case of Boston police officers so bent on obtaining a conviction in a high-profile case that they broke the rules, violated the Constitution, and wanted the conviction at all costs."

Drumgold is seeking an unspecified amount of damages for the 15 years that were stolen from his life.