COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - The father of a man whose sentence was vacated in a Columbia homicide says a civil lawsuit in the case is not about money.
Bill Ferguson says he wants some law enforcement officials to serve prison time for their handling of the case against his son, Ryan Ferguson, who was convicted in 2005 of the death of a Columbia newspaper editor. An appeals court vacated the sentence last year.
LINK: Ryan Ferguson timeline
Ferguson's family sued Boone County, the city of Columbia and several police officers and detectives.
The defendants contend they had legitimate reasons to believe Ryan Ferguson was involved in the murder.
The Kansas City Star reports Bill Ferguson doesn't want a settlement. He hopes the lawsuit sparks legislation requiring tougher penalties for prosecutors and law enforcement officers who act maliciously.
___
Information from: The Kansas City Star.
(Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
