Jury awards New Haven man $38 million for wrongful conviction in 1990 double murder
A federal jury awarded a man $38 million on Friday for a wrongful conviction for a 1990 double murder.
Stefon Morant sued the City of New Haven for the conviction for which he spent more than two decades in prison. He was released in 2015 after his conviction was overturned.
The jury reached its decision after more than two days of deliberations.
During the trial, Morant’s attorneys told the jury that formder police detective Vinceent Raucci framed Morant and another man for the crime.
Testimony during the trial alleged Raucci had a motive to frame the two men due to his alleged involvement with local drug dealers, including claims he tipped them off about police activity.
Raucci took the stand during the trial and that he engaged in any illegal activity.
His attorney argued that building relationships with drug dealers and others involved in criminal activity was a necessary part of Raucci’s work.
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