8th Amendment

"prohibits the federal government from imposing excessive bail, excessive fines or cruel and unusual punishments."

" Nearly 24 years after he was wrongfully convicted of murder, Michael Tillman is free, and exonerated...His conviction was based on a confession, which he has always contended was coerced through torture by officers working under Commander Jon Burge...Tillman said officers beat him with a phone book, punched him in the face and stomach until he vomited blood; wrapped a plastic bag around his head and poured soda up his nose - a la water boarding.
'He was held in custody and tortured for three days---mock execution, waterboarded, no food and water ... under the 'henchman' of Jon Burge,' his attorney Flint Taylor said at the time."

Michael Tillman was allegedly wrongfully convicted of the murder of Betty Howard more than 20 years ago. Howard was found dead in the apartment building Tillman lived in. they said that his fingerprints were found around the crime scene. With that evidence police arrested him and then began to beat a confession out of him under the orders of Officer Jon Burge. Now more than 20 years later Tillman was released because the court believes his confession he gave was false and was only given because of the environment he found himself in.

This relates to the constitution because he was submitted to cruel and unusual punishment. Not only has he been set free but Burge is now being investigated by a grand jury. This puts the eight amendments to work by showing that no matter how high your position might be there is no way you will get away with beating confession out of a man. Or submitting a prisoner to starvation just because you believe the crime he committed was inhumane.

The family still believes Tillman did because his fingerprints were found at the scene “I will be praying about this because it's unjust. ... It's truly messed up that the police messed up this case and because of that Michael is getting let out." Angelita Howard (the victim’s daughter) said. I personally believe that maybe fingerprints aren’t enough. She was found in an apartment building. Apartments hold multiple families. Couldn’t have been possible that maybe he was just in the same area that her body was found in way before the murder even happened. Whether true or not they still obtained the confession in the most heinous way possible. Subjecting the man to water boarding, starvations, and abuse wasn’t the answer. It’s hard to say that race didn’t play a part in his arrest and torture. This is one of the best examples of how the constitution is put to work for the common man.



Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/TIllman-goes-free-81511792.html#ixzz0nBE98Fq5