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Comptroller Stringer OK's Settlement For Exonerated Central Park 5 Defendants

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer on Thursday approved a settlement of $40 million for the five men wrongly convicted in the infamous 1989 Central Park jogger attack.

Stringer said the settlement will be a move forward with the city.

"In my judgment, this settlement is a prudent and equitable solution for all parties to the lawsuit and closes a very difficult chapter in our city's history," Stringer said in a statement. "I would like to commend New York City's Law Department for their extensive efforts in reaching this settlement."

Teenagers at the time, the men were charged with the rape of a 28-year-old woman.

The convictions were overturned in 2002 after DNA evidence was linked to a serial rapist who admitted to the attack.

Five black and Hispanic defendants --
Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusuf Salaam, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise -- were convicted in the attack on a white woman who had gone for a run in the park. They were dubbed the Central Park Five.

They served six to 13 years in prison before their convictions were thrown out in 2002 because of evidence connecting someone else to the attack.

The assailant was, in fact, only one person – Matias Reyes, an incarcerated serial rapist and murderer.

Attorney Michael Warren said the plaintiffs are ``very relieved'' at the step toward moving on with their lives.

The settlement also requires federal court approval.

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