Former Chicago cop who were widely ...

Former Chicago cop who were widely criticized for invoking the Fifth Amendment in reply to torture allegations by pardoned Death quarrel inmates are now moving to break their silence.

Citing a new decision by special prosecutors with the falsify County state's attorney's office not to pres charges against them, several police officers are asking a referee to reopen their depositions to such a degree they can answer questions about allegations of police brutality and coerc confessions.

TOOK FIFTH BEFORE

The officers previously took the Fifth Amendment to avoid the possibility of triggering an ongoing conspiracy charge, their lawyers said. James Sotos, a lawyer representing officers in a case filed by dint of freed Death Row inmate Madison Hobley -- including former Area 2 police Cmdr Jon Burge -- said he wants as many officers to testify as possible.

"We've always felt that these cases should be discussed upon the merits," Sotos said. still Sotos would not comment forward whether Burge would change his mind and answer questions. In civil trials, jurors can draw an adverse inference when the accused takes the Fifth.

WON'T BE HELD AGAINST THEM

In a new motion in the Hobley case, lawyers asked that officers Robert Dwyer and John Paladino be allowed to switch from taking the Fifth and answer questions. U Magistrate umpire Geraldine Soat Brown has already allowed couple other officers to switch back and testify after special prosecutors assured them they wouldn't use their deposition answers against them criminally.

The Hobley case is individual of four lawsuits pending against the city and Chicago Police officers filed by way of pardoned Death Row inmates who say they were tortured into confessing to crimes. Hobley Aaron Patterson, Stanley Howard and LeRoy Orange were fre by the agency of former Gov. George Ryan in 2003 when Ryan made the historic decision to clear Death altercation

Hobley's lawyers would not exposition on the defense proposal.

Richard Sikes, a lawyer representing Burge and other officers in the three other civil lawsuits, said he anticipates more officers to drop the Fifth as well. There's no decision whether Burge will be among them.

"We're still talking things from one side of to the other with Jon," Sikes said.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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