Angola Three plea in ‘best interest of justice’

The last inmate of a group known as the “Angola Three” pleaded no contest Friday to manslaughter in the 1972 death of a prison guard and was released after more than four decades in prison, raising a clenched fist as he walked free.

Woodfox spent the better part of 44 years in solitary confinement, a period believed to be the longest of any U.S. inmate, and his attorney explained that Woodfox has earned enough credit for time served to be released.

Woodfox maintained his innocence in the death of Brent Miller, and was finally released after pleading no contest to lesser charges in exchange for freedom.

Woodfox, and two others, know as the Angola Three, have brought attention to the psychological toll of solitary confinement, which typically means being locked in a tiny cell for 23 hours a day.

Next, Woodfox plans “to do what he can to help bring about reform, particularly as it surrounds solitary confinement and the excessive use and abuse of it”, the attorney said.

In a statement released through his lawyer, Woodfox thanked family and his fellow Angola 3 members who supported him “all these years”.

The Angola Three refers to Woodfox, Herman Wallace, and Robert King. Higher courts later overturned both convictions. A third inmate, Robert King, was also linked to Miller’s death, but was never charged. But this belated measure of justice, on Woodfox’s 69th birthday, is something he has been seeking for more than half his life.

King had been placed in solitary confinement for a crime unrelated to Miller’s killing.

Woodfox was awaiting a third trial in the guard’s killing when he was released on Friday.

Each time, Mr. Woodfox was re-indicted by the state.

Woodfox’s lawyer said the plea resulted from “tough negotiations” with Landry.

Scientific knowledge about the dire effects of solitary confinement on prisoners has grown in recent years and several worldwide bodies including the United Nations have called for it to be banned as a form of torture.

Woodfox twice managed to overturn his conviction for the crime, but Louisiana’s attorney-general had been determined to pursue a third trial and managed to bar Woodfox’s release on appeal.

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, however, painted Friday’s plea and subsequent release as the result of a successful prosecution that holds Woodfox liable for the guard’s murder.

“I feel like I am being smothered, it is very hard to breathe, and I sweat profusely”.

In a 2008 deposition, Solitary Watch reports, Angola warden Burl Cain said Woodfox “is still trying to practice Black Pantherism, and I still would not want him walking around my prison because he would organize the young new inmates”.

Woodfox and Herman Wallace, who were sent to Angola (Louisiana State Penitentiary) for unrelated cases of armed robbery, were convicted of the Rogers murder in 1972.

Woodfox consistently maintained his innocence in the killing of guard Brent Miller.