Jury Awards Deskovic $40 million in Suit Against Putnam

PUTNAM COUNTY, N.Y. -- Jeffrey Deskovic was awarded $40 million on Thursday, Oct. 23, by a federal jury that found Deskovic was coerced into giving a false confession in 1989 by Putnam County investigator in the death of a Peekskill student, according to LoHud.com.

Joe Jenkins

10/24/2014 12:30 p.m.

Deskovic was originally convicted of rape and murder in 1990 and served 16 years of a life sentence before DNA evidence exonerated him, LoHud.com reported.

Lawyers on both sides believe it to be the largest settlement in a wrongful conviction trial, but Putnam County will only be responsible for $10 million of the $40 million, due to a pre-trial settlement, LoHud.com said.

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