Jury starts deliberations in former Chicago cop’s trial on allegations he lied about torture

Jury starts deliberations in Burge’s torture trial

CHICAGO — A jury has begun deliberations to determine if they believe former Chicago Police Lt. Jon Burge is guilty of perjury and obstruction of justice.

Burge is accused of lying in a civil lawsuit when he said he’d never seen or participated in the torturing of suspects on Chicago’s South Side in the 1970s and 1980s. The testimonies of five alleged torture victims was heard during the trial in federal court.

During closing statements Thursday, prosecutors contended Burge got away with torturing suspects for decades because he thought he was “above the law.” Defense attorneys argued Burge is innocent and was an upstanding police officer.

If convicted, Burge could be sentenced to 45 years in prison.

The jury received the case Thursday afternoon.