A federal court jury on Long Island has determined that several former detectives who arrested three men in a 1984 rape and murder case did nothing wrong. The three menJohn Restivo, Dennis Halstead and John Kogutspent 18 years in prison for the rape and murder of 16-year-old Theresa Fusco before their convictions were overturned. They were freed in 2003 after DNA from the victim’s body did not match any of the three (NYLJ. June 12, 2003).
Kogut was the only defendant to be retried, and he was acquitted during a 2005 bench trial (NYLJ, Dec. 22, 2005). The three then sued Nassau County in the Eastern District for $190 million. Kogut v. County of Nassau, 06-cv-6695. In their civil suit for malicious prosecution and other claims held before Judge Joanna Seybert in Central Islip, the men argued that a confession by Kogut had been coerced. The jury, which deliberated for four hours, found for the county on Nov. 29.
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