Man convicted in 2011 murder of CPD officer, released from prison after conviction overturned – NBC Chicago

A man previously convicted of killing a Chicago police officer has been released from prison after his conviction was overturned by a Cook County judge.

Alexander Villa was one of three people charged in the 2011 killing of CPD Officer Clifton Lewis.

Villa's life sentence was overturned by a judge this week, the latest consequence in a case marked by alleged police and prosecutorial misconduct.

Lewis was off-duty and working as a security guard at a supermarket on Chicago's West Side when he was shot during an armed robbery.

Lewis' family described the latest turn in the case, 13 years after their loved one was murdered, as heartbreaking.

“This is a very, very sad day for the city of Chicago that our justice system allowed this to happen,” said Lewis' sister, LaShana Lewis.

The Cook County State's Attorney's Office released the following statement regarding the overturn of Villa's conviction:

“Following the conviction of Alexander Villa for the murder of Officer Clifton Lewis in 2011, our office discovered evidence that had not been previously or timely presented to the defense. “This information may be exculpatory, material, and relevant to a jury's assessment of the case,” and therefore we are compelled to agree with this conviction and dismiss the indictment. We recognize the pain and frustration this causes the family of Officer Lewis, who deserves to be remembered for his dedicated service to the Chicago Police Department and the City of Chicago, and not for procedural errors that marred our pursuit of justice and compromised accountability. While this is heartbreaking, prosecutors have a responsibility not only to find justice for those injured, but also to uphold the constitutional rights of those accused. We are actively working to learn from the chain of events that led us to this point so that we can make the necessary improvements to our systems and ensure this does not happen again.”

The Cook County State's Attorney's Office did not comment on whether the case would ever be reopened.

“As long as we are here, we will ensure that justice is served and his murderers are brought to justice and they will take the time to kill him,” Lewis said.