Ill. inmate who claimed torture to leave prison

[March 18, 2011]  CHICAGO (AP) -- A man who claims Chicago police tortured him into giving a false confession to a double murder is set to leave prison for the first time in more than 25 years.

Eric Caine is scheduled to leave Menard Correctional Center in southern Illinois on Thursday.

On Wednesday, a Cook County judge dismissed the charges against Caine and ordered his release.

Earlier in the day, the former Chicago police lieutenant who Caine says tortured him into confessing in 1986 reported to federal prison on perjury and obstruction of justice charges.

Former Lt. Jon Burge was convicted last year of lying about the torture of suspects. He's serving a 4 1/2-year sentence.

Caine's co-defendant, Aaron Patterson, was one of four men pardoned from death row by then-Gov. George Ryan in 2003.

[Associated Press]

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