(Angola 3) After 4 decades in solitary, Albert Woodfox's release ordered by federal judge
Source: The Times-Picayune
A federal judge in Baton Rouge has called for the unconditional release of Albert Woodfox, the only remaining imprisoned member of the Angola 3.
Woodfox, 68, was placed solitary confinement at Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola and other state facilities for more than 40 years for reasons related to since-overturned convictions in the 1972 murder of prison guard Brent Miller.
U.S. District Judge James Brady issued an order Monday (June 8) afternoon ordering the unconditional release of Woodfox from state custody and barring a third trial in the murder charges.
Woodfox has always maintained his innocence, claiming he was implicated in the murder of the 23-year-old guard to silence his activism as an organizing member of the prison's Black Panther Party chapter.
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Read more: http://www.nola.com/news/baton-rouge/index.ssf/2015/06/albert_woodfox_angola_release.html
By Emily Lane, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
on June 08, 2015 at 6:00 PM, updated June 08, 2015 at 7:33 PM
DreamGypsy
(2,252 posts)...and never dream of Angola again, in all your days.
A different story but the same story...just substitute a different name. How many such stories have we perpetrated in the name of justice?
Angola by Casey Neill:
Hayes Williams.
duhneece
(4,113 posts)When do we quit torturing?
NobodyHere
(2,810 posts)What would you do with violent prisoners?
Especially repeat offenders?
duhneece
(4,113 posts)...or not do to earn their way out of solitaire.
Provide them and their attorneys information about what got them there: was it their actions, was it because someone accused them of being a gang member...
No one should be tortured, i.e., held in solitary with no information as to how to earn their way out, no information about how long they'll be held, what got them there in the first place.
Solitary confinement is appropriate for offenders when they've been violent, but not held for long lengths of time (months, years) for punishment.
I don't think that being in a gang or accused of being in a gang deserves being locked up in solitary confinement.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)muriel_volestrangler
(101,319 posts)...
State prosecutors, on the other hand, are working to keep Woodfox in prison. With Mondays order, "the court would see fit to set free a twice-convicted murderer," Aaron Sadler, a spokesman for Louisiana Atty. Gen. Buddy Caldwell, told the Associated Press on Monday. "This order arbitrarily sets aside jury decisions and gives a free pass to a murderer based on faulty procedural issues."
On Tuesday, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stay temporarily blocking part of Bradys order so the state can put together an appeal. The block is to expire Friday afternoon.
http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-albert-woodfox-angola-solitary-20150608-htmlstory.html
Assholes.