Teen cleared of killing brother planning to sue

COLUMBUS (AP) — An Ohio teenager cleared of killing his identical twin said Friday that he can forgive police and prosecutors but plans to sue because he must be compensated for spending 18 months behind bars.

Prosecutors on Thursday dropped an aggravated murder charge against Derris Lewis in the January 2008 slaying of his brother, Dennis, after a test failed to find Derris Lewis’ blood on an incriminating palm print.

“I lost my freedom and my education. Those are the two most important things that I have as a citizen of these United States,” Derris Lewis said at a news conference.

“I would like a personal apology, but we will go further into what we have to do,” he said.

Lewis’ attorney, Adam Nemann, declined to discuss whether a lawsuit would be filed, but said: “I would not rule it out.”

As of early Friday afternoon, Derris Lewis said he still hadn’t gone to sleep after his release from jail 24 hours earlier. He spent his first day of freedom in more than a year visiting with friends and family, eating at Hometown Buffet restaurant, buying an iPhone and ironing his clothes and those of his mother, April.

He also visited his brother’s grave Thursday.

Derris Lewis said he forgives his brother’s killers but wants them caught and pledged to dedicate his life to catching them if the crime remains unsolved.