Man falsely convicted of murder to be paid $8.5 million

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville Metro Government will pay $8.5 million to a man wrongfully convicted of murder. Edwin Chandler spent nine years in prison for the crime he did not commit.

Chandler sat with family and his attorney Friday afternoon, one day after the remaining parties in his federal lawsuit agreed to the settlement.

"It is a relief, because I am able to close one door to open another," Chandler said.

A jury originally had convicted him of shooting and killing convenience store worker Brenda Whitfield during a robbery in 1993. Chandler's been free since 2009, after a Metro Police review of the case matched a fingerprint to another man.

It also revealed evidence that a Louisville Police Department detective coerced a confession and mishandled, concealed, or destroyed evidence that could have proven his innocence.

Chandler said Friday, "I think this case was compounded by a specific officer, but I believe that the police department as a whole should look at this area of policy and procedure with their training methods with their officers."

Edwin Chandler lives in Louisville. He now has a job and a fiancee.

The county attorney's office says the $8.5 million will be paid from a combination of city money and insurance.

Chandler says he'll use it to support his family and start a foundation to help other former inmates adjust to life outside of prison.

The man now charged with the crime, Percy Phillips, awaits trial and has a court hearing next week.