A man who was freed last year after spending nearly 23 years in prison for a murder he did not commit will get a $6.4 million settlement from the city.
David Ranta was wrongfully convicted for shooting and killing a Brooklyn rabbi in 1990. He was released last March when a yearlong investigation revealed that the case against him was flawed.
“After a review process and negotiations, my office was able to reach a settlement with Mr. Ranta that is in the best interests of all parties and closes the door on a truly regrettable episode in our city’s history,” said Comptroller Scott Stringer in a statement. “I am pleased that my office was able to move quickly to resolve this claim.”
The rabbi, Chaskel Werzberger, was shot by a thief who stole his car after a botched jewelry heist.
Ranta was sentenced to 37 years, though there was no physical evidence against him. The 2011 probe found that a teenager who said he saw Ranta near the murder site had not told the truth.