Another man testified Thursday that he was tortured into a murder confession by Chicago police, but had trouble remembering whether former Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge saw any of it.
Gregory Banks said that Burge looked in on the interview room “maybe twice,” but Banks could not remember what was going on inside the room when Burge looked in.
Burge is on trial accused of lying about acts of alleged police torture in the 1970′s and ’80′s. The statute of limitations on any assault charges has expired. Burge is accused of lying about torture in a 2003 civil case.
Banks testified Thursday that in 1983 Chicago police arrested him and took him to a new Area 2 headquarters building at 111th Street and Ellis Avenue on the South Side. Banks said Burge was present at the arrest.
At the Area 2 building, Banks said two officers, John Byrne and Charles Grunhard, beat him inside an interview room.
A gun was stuck inside his mouth and he was also struck with a flashlight, Banks testified.
Then, Banks said another officer, Peter Dignan, said a racial slur before covering his head with a plastic bag.
Banks eventually agreed to a forced confession in order to get away from Area 2, he said.
“I was scared,” Banks said Thursday. “I was 20 years old. I didn’t know what to do.”
Defense attorney William Gamboney questioned Banks about his drug habits and previous convictions.
Banks said he formerly used heroin every day for an unknown period of time. He was convicted of several burglaries in the 80s and 90s and was a member of the Black Gangster Disciples street gang for about 20 years, he said.
Gamboney also questioned Banks about meeting Anthony Holmes, who also said he was tortured. Banks said he never spoke to Holmes about his case while they were in prison together.
Banks spent seven years in prison before he was granted a new trial. The case was then dismissed.
The trial continues Monday.