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Solitary confinement: US man to be freed after 43 years Solitary confinement: US man to be freed after 43 years
(35 minutes later)
A judge in the US state of Louisiana has ordered the release of an inmate who has been in solitary confinement for more than 40 years.A judge in the US state of Louisiana has ordered the release of an inmate who has been in solitary confinement for more than 40 years.
Judge James Brady also banned prosecutors from trying Albert Woodfox, 68, for a third time.Judge James Brady also banned prosecutors from trying Albert Woodfox, 68, for a third time.
He has been in solitary confinement since 18 April 1972 after a prison riot that resulted in the death of a guard.He has been in solitary confinement since 18 April 1972 after a prison riot that resulted in the death of a guard.
Woodfox was tried twice for the guard's death, but both convictions were later overturned. He denies all the charges.Woodfox was tried twice for the guard's death, but both convictions were later overturned. He denies all the charges.
Woodfox was confined for 23 hours a day, with an hour outside his cell to "walk alone along the tier on which his cell is located", according to court documents from a case challenging his prison conditions.Woodfox was confined for 23 hours a day, with an hour outside his cell to "walk alone along the tier on which his cell is located", according to court documents from a case challenging his prison conditions.
Exercise was permitted three times a week and there were restrictions on "personal property, reading materials, access to legal resources, work, and visitation rights".Exercise was permitted three times a week and there were restrictions on "personal property, reading materials, access to legal resources, work, and visitation rights".
On Monday, Judge Brady ordered the unconditional release of Woodfox - who was originally convicted and imprisoned for armed robbery - and said a third trial could not be fair. Originally convicted and imprisoned for armed robbery, he was found guilty of murder after the riot in which prison officer Brent Miller was stabbed to death with a lawnmower blade.
On Monday, Judge Brady ordered the unconditional release of Woodfox and said a third trial could not be fair.
But a spokesman for the Louisiana attorney general said prosecutors would appeal "to make sure this murderer stays in prison and remains fully accountable for his actions".But a spokesman for the Louisiana attorney general said prosecutors would appeal "to make sure this murderer stays in prison and remains fully accountable for his actions".
Solitary confinement in the USSolitary confinement in the US
Sources: ACLU, Bureau of Justice Statistics. Solitarywatch.com, Louisiana Prison WatchSources: ACLU, Bureau of Justice Statistics. Solitarywatch.com, Louisiana Prison Watch
How do you survive solitary confinement?How do you survive solitary confinement?
Woodfox is reported to be awaiting release from another prison where he was taken ahead of his trial.Woodfox is reported to be awaiting release from another prison where he was taken ahead of his trial.
He is one of three men who were held in solitary confinement at the maximum security Louisiana State Penitentiary and known as the Angola Three, as the prison lies next to a former slave plantation called Angola. He is one of three men who were held in solitary confinement at the maximum security Louisiana State Penitentiary and known as the "Angola Three", as the prison lies next to a former slave plantation called Angola.
The other two men, Robert King and Herman Wallace, were released in 2001 and 2013 respectively. Wallace died soon after his release pending a new trial. King's conviction was overturned. The other two men, Robert King and Herman Wallace, were released in 2001 and 2013 respectively. Wallace, also convicted over Mr Miller's murder, died soon after his release pending a new trial. King's conviction was overturned.
King and Wallace, too, were first imprisoned for armed robbery. King and Wallace were also initially imprisoned for armed robbery.
Woodfox and Wallace were involved with the Black Panthers, a militant black rights movement formed in 1966 for self-defence against police brutality and racism, which later embraced "revolutionary" struggle as a way of achieving black liberation.Woodfox and Wallace were involved with the Black Panthers, a militant black rights movement formed in 1966 for self-defence against police brutality and racism, which later embraced "revolutionary" struggle as a way of achieving black liberation.
Woodfox, Wallace and King consistently maintained they were imprisoned for crimes they did not commit, with convictions only obtained after blatant mistrials.Woodfox, Wallace and King consistently maintained they were imprisoned for crimes they did not commit, with convictions only obtained after blatant mistrials.
King, who spent 29 years in solitary confinement, described his experience to the BBC in an interview three years ago.King, who spent 29 years in solitary confinement, described his experience to the BBC in an interview three years ago.
He said he remained strong but it was "scary" to see how others crumbled through lack of human contact.He said he remained strong but it was "scary" to see how others crumbled through lack of human contact.
The three men have been the focus of a long-running international jcampaign. The three men have been the focus of a long-running international campaign.