Allegations:
In April 1983, two officers visited Andrews and told him they wanted to question him about a dog fight. He voluntarily accompanied the officers to a police station. He was placed in an interrogation room, forced onto a bench and handcuffed to a metal ring attached to the wall. Detectives Madigan and McWeeny questioned Andrews about gunshots at a dog fight and asked if he knew two men—murder victims whose deaths the officers were investigating. Shortly after, the detectives accused Andrews of murdering the men. According to police reports, Burge, a lieutenant and commanding officer of a violent crimes unit, had coordinated and supervised the investigation of the murders, including Andrews' arrest. Every time he was questioned, Andrews denied any involvement. As a result, the officers physically and verbally abused Andrews. He was denied his Miranda rights, access to an attorney, a phone call and food. Andrews was beaten with a heavy-duty police-issue flashlight and endured continuous fist punches. Madigan attempted to coach Andrews about the details of the murder, telling him what he was to say in a statement to the State's Attorney's Office. During the session, Madigan repeatedly struck Andrews with the flashlight and his fists. After eight hours of interrogation and torture, Andrews confessed to murdering one of the two victims, reciting the story that was given to him. After this first statement, the officers continued to physically and psychologically torture him. Four hours after his first statement, and 12 hours after being arrested, Andrews confessed to the second murder. During the murder trials, Andrews presented his sworn testimony about the abuses to which he was subjected prior to his coerced statements. The officers testified that Andrews had confessed voluntarily. Andrews was convicted of the murders without any physical evidence linking him to the crime. Andrews was incarcerated for 24 years for crimes he did not commit.