Sentencing Hearing for Burge Begins

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jan 20, 2011 7:40PM

The sentencing hearing for former Chicago Police lieutenant Jon Burge began this morning to a packed courtroom. Over the next two days, victims of Burge's torture tactics while he was at Area 2 Headquarters are expected to offer emotional testimony and ask Judge Joan Lefkow to impose a harsh prison term to the policeman who came to epitomize police brutality in Chicago.

On the other side will be friends and acquaintances of Burge, offering counter testimony of the man;s character in the hopes Lefkow will lay down a more lenient sentence. Last week, Lefkow refused to recuse herself from the sentencing hearing.