Long Island Man Settles Suit for $3.4M After Serving 17 Years in Prison

Martin Tankleff was convicted in the 1988 killings of his parents in their eastern Long Island home

A man who spent 17 years in prison for killing his parents has settled a wrongful conviction lawsuit against New York state.

A spokesman for Martin Tankleff said Tuesday the Long Island man settled the suit for nearly $3.4 million.

Tankleff was convicted in the 1988 killings of his parents in their eastern Long Island home.

He was freed in 2007 after an appeals court found key evidence in his trial was overlooked. Prosecutors ultimately decided against a new trial.

His attorneys have argued that his confession was coerced and that a family business associate was the real culprit.

A spokeswoman for the state attorney general did not immediately comment.

A federal lawsuit against Suffolk County and a detective who has admitted he coerced a confession from Tankleff is pending.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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