Man who spent 18 years on Death Row because police 'lost' the file that eventually cleared him awarded just $80,000 in damages

A man who spent 18 years in prison on Death Row because a Chicago cop withheld or fabricated evidence against him had been seeking $18 million in damages - but was awarded just $80,000.

A federal jury handed down their ruling on the lawsuit on Thursday morning over the gaffe, which will be paid for by Chicago taxpayers.

Former El Rukn gang member Nathson Fields, who was convicted of a double murder in 1986 but freed at a retrial in 2009, said the decision was a travesty.

Now 60, Fields has called on U.S. Attorney Zach Fardon to investigate, The Chicago Sun-Times reported.

READ MORE: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2619341/Man-spent-18-years-Death-Row-police-lost-file-eventually-cleared-awarded-just-80K-damages.html