NY Judge: Slain Student’s Kin Can Sue Government

A federal judge in New York is allowing the family of a slain graduate student to sue the U.S. government on grounds that it improperly supervised her killer.

Daryl Littlejohn was granted supervised release from prison in 2004 after a bank robbery conviction. He violated the terms of his release by working as a bouncer at the Manhattan nightclub. In 2006, he abducted Imette St. Guillen from the club and killed her.

Judge Dora Irizarry said the offices of U.S. Probation and Pre-Trial Services cannot get immunity because there’s evidence they botched the case.

The Brooklyn U.S. attorney’s office, which represents the agencies, is reviewing the decision.

Littlejohn is serving a life sentence for killing St. Guillen, who was from Boston.