Man compensated for wrongful imprisonment

The city of Chicago will pay $2.7 million to a man who spent 27 years in prison for the rape of a 9-year-old girl, only to be cleared by DNA evidence.

Michael Evans was convicted in 1977 of the abduction, rape and murder of Lisa Cabassa. He was freed in 2003 after DNA tests arranged by the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University showed that neither Evans nor his co-defendant, Paul Terry, could have raped the girl.

Evans filed a civil lawsuit in federal court against the 10 police officers for allegedly framing him. But in August 2006, a jury found in favor of the defendants.

On Monday, the City Council's Finance Committee signed off on the agreement to pay Evans.

Instead of suing the city, Terry earlier opted for a settlement.