JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A police officer accused of forcing a confession out of a Jacksonville teen took the stand Monday in the trial of a man now accused of the crime.
Juan Curtis is charged with killing a Georgia tourist outside a local hotel. This is the second trial for Curtis, whose first conviction in the case was thrown out.
Recommended Videos
The case drew national attention when another teen was convicted in the May 2000 murder of tourist Mary Anne Stephens.
Brenton Butler was sentenced to prison for the murder, but lawyers later argued that his confession was coerced by police and he was exonerated.
The sheriff and state attorney apologized for the wrongful arrest and prosecution, and the city paid Butler's family $775,000 to settle a lawsuit.
Former JSO Homicide Detective Michael Glover, the son of former Sheriff Nat Glover, gave testimony Monday about Butler's confession.
The prosecutor questioned if Glover forced the confession, to which he replied, "No sir, I did not."
Within months of Butler's acquittal, Curtis was arrested. His accomplice testified that Curtis shot Stephens during a robbery gone bad.
In 2002, Curtis was convicted of Stephens' murder, but the appeals court overturned that conviction, saying jurors listening to the case should have heard evidence about Butler's confession to the crime.
Stephens' husband, who witnessed the crime, fingered Butler as the killer, but then changed his testimony and implicated Curtis during Butler's trial.
Butler could take the stand Tuesday to testify about his confession, which he says police beat out of him.
Prosecutors maintain that Curtis is the real killer.
Previous Stories:
- October 4, 2004: Retrial In Infamous Tourist Murder Case Begins
- February 17, 2004: Teen Falsely Accused Of Murder Writes Book About Ordeal
- October 31, 2002: Curtis Sentenced To Life For Tourist Murder
- October 1, 2002: Curtis Found Guilty Of Infamous 2000 Murder
- September 17, 2002: Officers' Discipline In Butler Case Overturned
- May 20, 2002: Internal Affairs: Suspend 3 Officers In Butler Case
- April 29, 2002: Butler Family Settles Lawsuit With City
- March 25, 2002: Documentary On Local Case Wins Oscar
- October 18, 2001: Falsely Accused Teen Sues For $8.5 Million
- August 3, 2001: Grand Jury: No Charges For Officers
- February 27, 2001: State Attorney Files Petition To Expunge Butler Record
- February 22, 2001: Shorstein, Glover Apologize To 'Wrongly Accused' Teen
- November 22, 2000: Teen Acquitted Of Tourist Murder