Co-defendant in "cannibal cop" case wants freedom

NEW YORK - A co-defendant of the New York City police officer dubbed the "cannibal cop" before his conviction was overturned wants to be freed from jail, too.

A Manhattan federal judge overturned Valle's conspiracy conviction in July, saying his plans to kidnap, kill and eat women were all fantasy.

Twenty-three-year-old Michael Van Hise was initially charged with conspiring with Valle, but those charges were dropped.

He was convicted of conspiring with two other men he had met online to kidnap, rape, torture and murder women. Van Hise's lawyer tells the Daily News that it would be inconsistent to let Van Hise's conviction stand after Valle's was overturned.