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Beaman appeals dismissal of lawsuit in ISU case

PEORIA — An Illinois man who was imprisoned before DNA evidence cleared him of murder has appealed the dismissal of his federal lawsuit against officials in the town of Normal.

The Pantagraph reports Alan Beaman’s attorneys filed a notice of appeal this week with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th District. The Rockford man was convicted in the 1993 strangulation death of Illinois State University student Jennifer Lockmiller and spent 13 years in prison. The Illinois Supreme Court reversed his conviction in 2008.

A federal judge dismissed Beaman’s lawsuit on Jan. 2. The lawsuit argues investigators and former prosecutors conspired to build a case against Beaman. The federal judge ruled Beaman’s evidence didn’t show conspiracy.

Beaman was granted a certificate of innocence and has a clemency petition pending.

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