A Michigan man has been released from prison after 22 years after Detroit-area prosecutors acknowledged that his murder conviction was tainted by the key testimony of a rogue police officer.

Investigators had a signed statement from a man who said he had witnessed the shooting. But at trial, he recanted and said he had been coerced by police.

The jury also heard from Detroit police Sgt. Walter Bates, who denied coercing the witness. The jury apparently believed the officer and declared Hill guilty.

But Worthy noted that jurors and Hill’s lawyer didn’t know that Bates was suspended at the time of his testimony. Bates was later convicted in federal court of organizing bank robberies.

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