FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) -- The city of Fort Collins has approved a $5.9 million lawsuit by a man who served nearly 10 years in prison for murder before he was released based on DNA evidence.
The settlement announced Tuesday brings to $10 million the amount Tim Masters has received from his lawsuit against city and Larimer County officials he said ignored, withheld or destroyed evidence pointing to his innocence.
Fort Collins City Manager Darin Atteberry told The Coloradoan that city reserve funds and insurance will cover the settlement.
Masters was convicted of the 1987 slaying of Peggy Hettrick of Fort Collins and served nearly 10 years in prison before he was cleared by advanced DNA testing. He was released in January 2008.
Hettrick's slaying remains unsolved.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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