DENVER—Prosecutors sued by a man who spent nearly 10 years in prison before his murder conviction was overturned say they plan to appeal a federal judge’s refusal to dismiss the suit.
Timothy Masters was convicted in the slaying and sexual mutilation of Peggy Hettrick in Fort Collins in 1987. His conviction was overturned and he was released from prison in 2008.
Masters’ lawsuit claims detectives and prosecutors maliciously targeted him and destroyed or withheld evidence that could have cleared him.
The defendants have denied wrongdoing and claim immunity because they were acting in their official capacity. The former prosecutors, two of whom are state district judges, say they will appeal to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
