Defendants Want Claims Dismissed in Ferguson Case

Six of 13 defendants want some counts dismissed in a civil lawsuit filed by a Missouri man whose murder conviction was vacated after he served nearly a decade behind bars.

Ryan Ferguson, convicted in 2005 of killing Columbia Daily Tribune sports editor Kent Heitholt before his conviction was vacated, sued the city of Columbia, Boone County and several law enforcement officers.

Attorneys for ex-Columbia police Chief Randy Boehm's sought last week to have three of the eight claims against him dismissed. Ex-Sgt. Stephen Monticelli asked that a malicious prosecution charge be dropped. Boone County, the city of Columbia, investigator Ben White and current Boone County Circuit Judge Kevin Crane asked that all counts against them be dismissed.

The Columbia Daily Tribunereports a judge hasn't ruled on the motions.