City council in Ohio signs off on nearly $1M settlement for man once charged with killing twin

Ohio city OKs $950K settlement in twin’s killing

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The city council in Ohio’s largest city has approved nearly $1 million for a man who was mistakenly accused of killing his identical twin.

During Monday’s council meeting in Columbus, Police Chief Walter Distelzweig (DIH’-stuhl-swayg) said he has ordered changes in evidence handling at crime scenes and may call for modified training.

Derris Lewis was charged with aggravated murder in the 2008 killing of his twin brother, Dennis. The case ended in a mistrial over a juror issue, and Lewis was later cleared after a test failed to find his blood on a palm print that had been a key piece of evidence.

The city’s $950,000 settlement with 20-year-old Lewis was first announced last month, when officials issued a public apology.

Information from: The Columbus Dispatch, www.dispatch.com